High societal costs and reduced health-related quality of life in inflammatory and systemic immune disease-associated dilated cardiomyopathies
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart condition that can greatly affect the daily life of a patient and costs more than €10,000 per patient each year for society. However, DCM is not the same disease for everyone, as it can arise from many different causes. This study looked at how quality of life and societal costs differ among patients with different types of DCM. 550 patients were included in this study; all who had detailed clinical testing to determine the cause of DCM. They were grouped based on the cause of their DCM, such as chemotherapy, genetic factors, inflammation, immune-related diseases, alcohol use, or unknown causes. Patients filled out questionnaires about their health, well-being, and medical or work-related costs. The study found that people with DCM caused by chronic inflammation, immune system diseases, or long-term alcohol use generally reported a lower quality of life than those in other groups. Costs to society (such as healthcare expenses and lost productivity due to inability to work) were also higher for those with inflammatory or immune-related DCM. Healthcare costs alone were especially high for patients with inflammatory DCM. Overall, these findings suggest that certain DCM subgroups, particularly those involving inflammation or immune system problems, require more healthcare resources and experience poorer quality of life. This information can help guide how resources are spent and highlight the need for tailored support, including education, psychological care, and financial guidance for these subgroups of DCM.
Sikking M, Wiethoff I, Henkens M, Evers S, Stroeks S, Venner M, Weerts J, Brunner-la Rocca HP, Knackstedt C, van Empel V, Michels M, Heymans S, Hiligsmann M, Verdonschot J. High societal costs and reduced health-related quality of life in inflammatory and systemic immune disease-associated dilated cardiomyopathies.
Qual Life Res. 2025 Oct;34(10):2901-2910. doi: 10.1007/s11136-025-04027-5. Epub 2025 Jul 30. PMID: 40739074; PMCID: PMC12535485
Prepared by Job Verdonschot and Ruth Biller