NPPB and familial dilated cardiomyopathy: In comparison to healthy volunteers, DCMpatients had higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus,hyperlipidemia, smoking, left bundle branch block(LBBB), and presented more often with New YorkHeart Association (NYHA) functional class >II (all p< 0.05).Additionally, DCM patients showed higher levels of N-terminal pro-B-typenatriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), troponin I (TnI), creatine kinase myocardialband (CKMB), and were more likely to be receiving angiotensin converting enzymeinhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), beta blockers, diuretics,or digoxin.