Genetic TestingUIC Multi-Ethnic DCM Registry

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a condition where the heart loses its ability to pump blood throughout the body, is a common cause of death in the United States (US). It affects minorities more frequently and appears to causes greater harm than Whites. However, almost all research related to DCM has been performed in Whites, where up to half of cases run in the family. Several genes have been identified that cause the disease, but we are unsure if these same genes are also responsible for DCM in African Americans or Hispanic/Latino patients. The impact of various medical, social, and financial stressors on the severity of the disease in ethnic minorities also remains unclear. The investigators believe that certain genes are more common in different racial and ethnic groups and the greater medical, social, and financial burden faced by minorities in the US leads to more harm from DCM in these groups. The overall goal of the project is to test whether ethnic minority patients carrying genes that cause DCM experience more adverse effects in part because of various medical, social, and financial burdens. The investigators will first establish the UIC Multi-ethnic DCM Biorepository to look for how often certain genes are found across different race-ethnicity and then ask the question if these genes impact the severity of DCM. Finally, the investigators will study how a person's environment can alter the course of their disease. Through this, the investigators hope and strive to ensure equal and adequate heart care for individuals regardless of their race-ethnicity.