Preliminary Data of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Registry in Nonspecialized Centers of Argentina. Exploring Behind the Veils of Common Practice
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic disease caused by cardiac sarcomere protein mutations, with considerable prevalence and different clinical presentation, varying from asymptomatic to heart failure and sudden death.Some patients are followed-up in nonspecialized centers, and it is necessary to know data that show the reality of their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.Objective: The aim of this study was to know the clinical characteristics, and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies when HCM is managed in centers not specialized in this disease.Methods: This was a national, cross-sectional, multicenter study, with quantitative analysis of patients with confirmed or highly probable HCM.Results: A total of 95 patients were recruited, mostly men, with hypertension (40%) and dyslipidemia (22%) as main risk factors.A low proportion of comorbidities was observed: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (6%), prior myocardial infarction (5%), prior stroke (1%) and chronic kidney failure (1%).The main symptoms were dyspnea (47% and angina (27%), and the most used diagnostic methods were echocardiogram (97%) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (71%).The most frequent localization was septal, with 37% of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.The genetic test, performed in 33% of patients, was positive in more than half of cases.It was not performed in the rest of the patients, mainly due to lack of health coverage.Conclusions: These findings are in agreement with international registries.Based on our findings, emphasis should be placed in improving the access to more complex diagnostic studies and optimizing the resources in a fragmented health system.
Source: Revista Argentina de Cardiología
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4401809123