From the Guidelines
I will generate 10 single best answer (SBA) questions on cardiomyopathy, prioritizing the most recent and highest quality studies to ensure optimal patient outcomes in terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. Here are 10 SBA questions covering various aspects of cardiomyopathy:
- A 45-year-old man presents with progressive dyspnea, orthopnea, and peripheral edema. Echocardiography shows dilated left ventricle with ejection fraction of 25%. What is the most likely diagnosis? (Answer: Dilated cardiomyopathy) 1
- Which medication has been shown to improve symptoms in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? (Answer: Beta-blockers such as metoprolol or propranolol) 1
- A 30-year-old woman with peripartum cardiomyopathy asks about future pregnancies. What is the most appropriate advice? (Answer: Avoid future pregnancies if left ventricular function hasn't normalized) 1
- Which genetic mutation is most commonly associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? (Answer: Mutations in sarcomeric proteins, particularly beta-myosin heavy chain) 1
- A patient with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is most at risk for which complication? (Answer: Sudden cardiac death due to ventricular arrhythmias) 1
- First-line pharmacological treatment for symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy includes which medication? (Answer: Beta-blockers such as metoprolol or propranolol) 1
- Which imaging finding is characteristic of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy? (Answer: Apical ballooning with basal hyperkinesis) 1
- A 60-year-old alcoholic presents with heart failure. What finding would suggest alcoholic cardiomyopathy? (Answer: Dilated left ventricle with reduced ejection fraction in the absence of coronary artery disease) 1
- Which cardiomyopathy is characterized by restrictive ventricular filling and normal or reduced diastolic volume? (Answer: Restrictive cardiomyopathy) 1
- A patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and severe symptoms despite maximal medical therapy would most appropriately be referred for which procedure? (Answer: Septal myectomy or alcohol septal ablation) 1
These questions cover various aspects of cardiomyopathy, including diagnosis, treatment, and complications, and are based on the most recent and highest quality studies available, including the 2020 AHA/ACC guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 1 and the 2021 ACR Appropriateness Criteria for nonischemic myocardial disease with clinical manifestations 1.
From the Research
Cardiomyopathy Questions
Here are 10 SBA questions on cardiomyopathy:
- What is the most common primary cardiomyopathy, and what are its typical symptoms? 2
- How can cardiomyopathy be separated into categories, and what are the resulting phenotypes? 2
- What is the role of electrocardiography and echocardiography in the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy? 2, 3
- What are the "red flags" in the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, and how do they guide the choice of diagnostic tests and therapy? 3
- How do beta-blockers improve cardiac function in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy? 4
- What are the benefits of genetic testing in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and how can it predict and prevent disease? 5
- Which beta-blockers have been shown to reduce mortality in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, and what factors influence the choice of therapeutic agent? 6
- What are the typical symptoms of restrictive cardiomyopathy, and how is it associated with systemic disease? 2
- How can family physicians diagnose and manage acquired variants of cardiomyopathy, such as peripartum and stress-induced cardiomyopathy? 2
- What are the potential treatment options for refractory cardiomyopathy, including heart transplantation and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement? 2