LAUSR

To the Editor: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a type of primary myocardial disease with unknown etiology. [1] It is a disorder of the heart muscle mainly characterized by left ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction, resulting from the response of the myocardium to genetic and environmental insults. The clinical manifestations are progressive heart failure, arrhythmia, thromboembolism, and even sudden death. The morbidity and mortality of DCM have been steadily increasing, which has become one of the main causes of death in cardiomyopathy. DCM may involve the conduction system and is often associated with various types of arrhythmias, such as atrial fi brillation (AF). [2] AF can increase the risk of vascular embolism. Studies have shown that patients with AF have a fi ve-fold increased incidence of stroke and a two-fold increased mortality. About 15% – 20% of ischemic strokes are caused by AF. The hemodynamic changes and increased risk of thromboembolic events caused by AF in patients with DCM increase their disability rate and mortality. Therefore, early prediction and intervention of AF in patients with DCM can effectively improve the prognosis and quality of life. An accurate risk classi fi ca-tion of AF in patients with DCM