Long-term prognostic impact of therapeutic strategies in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: changing mortality over the last 30 years

Aims ACE‐inhibitors, β‐blockers, implantable cardioverter–defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improved prognosis of heart failure. We sought to analyse the long‐term prognostic impact of evidence‐based integrated therapeutic strategies in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM). Methods and results From 1978 to 2007, 853 IDCM patients (45 ± 15 years, 72% males) were enrolled and classified as follows: Group 1, 110 patients (12.8%) enrolled during 1978–1987; Group 2, 376 patients (44.1%) enrolled during 1988–1997; Group 3, 367 patients (43.1%) enrolled during 1998–2007. ACE‐inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers were administered in 34%, 93%, and 93% (P