What is the prognosis for someone who has dilated cardiomopathy & heart failure?

Question

unable to have surgery to repair valve because of liver problems. On the medication Coreg.

Answer 1

Prognosis and Treatment Cardiomyopathy & Heart Failure:

About 70% of people with dilated cardiomyopathy die within 5 years of when their symptoms begin, and the prognosis worsens as the heart walls become thinner and the heart functions less well. Abnormal heart rhythms also indicate a worse prognosis. Overall, men survive only half as long as women, and blacks survive half as long as whites. About 50% of deaths are sudden, probably resulting from an abnormal heart rhythm.

Treating the cause, such as alcohol abuse (by abstaining from alcohol) or a bacterial infection (by using antibiotics), can prolong life.

People who also have coronary artery disease may require treatment for it. Such treatment may include a nitrate, a beta-blocker, or a calcium channel blocker (see Drugs Used to Treat Coronary Artery DiseaseTables). However, calcium channel blockers may reduce the force of heart contractions and thus may worsen the heart failure that accompanies dilated cardiomyopathy. Getting enough rest and avoiding stress help reduce strain on the heart.

Antiarrhythmic drugs may be given to prevent abnormal heart rhythms (see Some Drugs Used to Treat ArrhythmiasTables). Most of these drugs are prescribed in small doses. They are increased in small increments, because if the dose is too large, an antiarrhythmic drug may reduce the force of heart contractions and thereby worsen heart failure.

Heart failure is treated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, a beta-blocker, digoxinSome Trade Names
LANOXIN
, and often a diuretic (see Some Drugs Used to Treat Heart Failure*Tables). However, unless a specific cause of dilated cardiomyopathy can be treated, the heart failure is likely to eventually be fatal. Because of this poor prognosis, dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common reason for heart transplantation (see Transplantation: Heart Transplantation). Successful heart transplantation cures the disorder, but it has its own complications and limitations.

Regardless of the cause of dilated cardiomyopathy, anticoagulants, such as warfarinSome Trade Names
COUMADIN
, are usually given to prevent blood clots, which may form on the heart chamber walls.

Survival after a diagnosis of heart failure



Prognosis from heart failure is poor. Data from the London Heart Failure Study show that around 40% of people die within one year of an initial diagnosis of heart failure.



Comparing one-year survival rates for heart failure with those for a number of common cancers shows that prognosis from heart failure is relatively poor. The one-year survival rate for heart failure is worse than those for breast, prostate and bladder cancer, better than those for lung and stomach cancer, and very similar to that for cancer of the colon.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Age is a factor here, I mean the older the person is makes a difference. Look if that person also has liver damage, and they can't do surgery, I am truly sorry to say heart failure is just that. Make life comfortable for them, don't treat them as though today may be their last, because who knows they still could have a fair bit of time left. Does this person have dreams or goals they would love to fulfil, why not support them those.

Answer 4

Depending on age of someone with DCM and CHF and liver failure at 40+ could go 10-20 years at 60+ maybe 5 years or less.