Dilated Cardiomyopathy Foundation Announces the Launch of the Genetic CardioMYopathy Awareness Consortium (GCAC)

CHICAGO, March 27, 2023 (Newswire.com) - The Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) Foundation is proud to announce the official launch of the Genetic CardioMYopathy Awareness Consortium (GCAC). Created in partnership with eight U.S.-based cardiomyopathy patient groups, the GCAC was formed to raise awareness about the role genetic testing plays in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic cardiomyopathy and help connect more people with affordable, accessible genetic testing.

"Genetic testing can truly save lives," said Greg Ruf, President of the DCM Foundation Board of Directors. "By understanding your risk for genetic cardiomyopathy, you can not only protect yourself by working with your cardiologist to manage your condition, but also protect your family who may have the same genetic mutation." 

Close to half of all cardiomyopathy cases have some type of genetic basis or are inherited but only a very small percentage of diagnosed cardiomyopathy patients are ever asked to get genetically tested by their cardiologists even though their governing organizations recommend genetic testing. 

From first sitting down with a genetic counselor to understand the testing process and your results to sharing those results with your family, the GCAC website provides step-by-step support to make sure patients feel informed and empowered during the genetic testing process. To learn more, please visit geneticcardiomyopathy.org.

You should consider getting genetic testing if:

1. You have been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and it was not caused by heart attack or coronary artery disease;
2. Someone in your immediate family has been diagnosed or tested positive for inherited cardiomyopathy; 
3. Or one or more close relatives (especially younger than 40 years old) has died unexpectedly from cardiac arrest or heart attack with no sign of heart disease.

In addition to the DCM Foundation, other patient-partner organizations supporting the GCAC include: the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN), the Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation, Global Heart Hub, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, Heart Brothers Foundation, Mended Hearts, SADS Foundation, Team Titin and WomenHeart. 

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About the Dilated Cardiomyopathy Foundation

Launched in 2017, the DCM Foundation provides hope and support to patients and families with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) through research, advocacy and education. The DCM Foundation is dedicated to helping patients and their families by providing educational resources about DCM and genetic testing. For more information, visit dcmfoundation.org.

Source: Dilated Cardiomyopathy Foundation