FULL STORY

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a leading cause of heart failure, affecting 1 in 250 people. The disease is characterised by an increase in size of the left ventricle of the heart. The stretched heart muscle is then unable to pump blood as effectively, which can lead to irregular heartbeat, heart valve problems, and ultimately heart failure. As the leading cause of heart failure, DCM is the most common reason for carrying out a heart transplant, which is only offered in end-stage heart failure when all other treatment options and lifestyle changes have failed. Despite years of work to improve patient survival after transplantation, the 10-year survival rate is still only 50%.