LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Prognostic value of heart rate variability in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy
Beyhan Eryonucu, MDa,
Mehmet Bilge, MD and
Niyazi Güler, MD
a Yüzüncü Y l Üniversitesi, Tp Fakültesi Kardiyoloji AD, 65200 Van, Türkiye, Turkey
We read with interest the report by Fauchier et al. (1), regarding the prognostic value of heart rate variability for sudden death and major arrhythmic events in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Their results showed that a decrease in heart rate variability was an independent predictor of arrhythmic events and sudden death in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. They suggested that it was not previously demonstrated. However, Szabo et al. (2) studied the prognostic value of heart rate variability in chronic congestive heart failure secondary to idiopathic or ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Their patient group consisted of 178 patients (40 with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, mean ejection fraction 28%). Four (10%) of the 40 patients had a sudden cardiac death during a follow-up of 23 months. Prognostic factors for sudden cardiac death were left ventricular ejection fraction <27% and standard deviation of the averages of NN intervals <108 ms. The authors reported that impairment of heart rate variability variables was correlated with an increased risk of cardiac death and that heart rate variability appeared to have independent prognostic value in congestive heart failure. In the study of Faucher et al., 116 patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction 34 ± 12%, mean follow-up 53 ± 39 months) were investigated. Seven patients (6%) had a sudden cardiac death.
In our opinion, despite the small group and the short follow-up, the results of the study of Szabo et al. should have been taken into consideration in Fauchier et al.’s study.
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References
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- Fauchier L, Babuty D, Cosnay P, Fauchier JP. Prognostic value of heart rate variability for sudden death and major arrhythmic events in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1999;33:1203–1207[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Szabo BM, van Veldhuisen DJ, van der Veer N, Brouwer J, De Graeff PA, Crijns HJGM. Prognostic value of heart rate variability in chronic congestive heart failure secondary to idiopathic or ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol. 1997;79:978–980[CrossRef][Medline]
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