Towards risk factor assessment in XXXX : the SFB/TR 19 study.

@entity1 @entity712 @entity101 @entity6 @entity384 @entity565 @entity1000 @entity166
BACKGROUND: @entity1 with @entity1000 (DCMid) account for about one-third of @entity1 with @entity712 . Recent studies found a myocardial viral genomic persistence in up to 67% of DCMid @entity1 , indicating a possible inflammatory etiology (DCMi). Considering the importance of DCMi, we aimed to study the present knowledge on risk factors in DCMi. METHODS: Review of published literature on risk factors for DCMi/DCMid from 1989 through 2005 in Medline database and the Cochrane library (search terms 'epidemiology', 'risk factors', ' @entity384 ' and ' @entity1000 '). RESULTS: An extended array of risk factors in DCMid has been investigated in 11 studies. No studies addressing specifically DCMi, however, were found. Consistent associations with DCMid were reported only for @entity6 , black race, male sex and estimated low income. Inconsistent results were observed for the presence of @entity565 , @entity101 and smoking. Few studies addressed potential risk factors such as low education level, @entity166 and environmental factors. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the high number of potential DCMi @entity1 among @entity1 with DCMid, results on risk factors for DCMid are likely relevant to at least a number of @entity1 with DCMi. Future studies of risk factors in DCMi should include specific case classification and the application of standardized instruments for risk-factor assessment. The four-center SFB/TR 19 study aims to establish a prospective cohort of DCMi @entity1 validated by endomyocardial biopsy.
