Recommendation 15: We recommend the choice of investigations should first be guided by careful history and physical examinations and when clinical evidence suggests a possible cause and the planned test(s) result(s) would be reasonably expected to lead to a change in clinical care (Strong Recommendation, Low Quality Evidence).
Recommendation 16: We recommend that a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) be performed to determine heart rhythm, heart rate, QRS duration, and morphology, and to detect possible etiologies (Strong Recommendation, Low Quality Evidence).
Recommendation 17: We recommend that echocardiography be performed in all patients with suspected HF to assess cardiac structure and function, to quantify systolic function for planning and monitoring of treatment, and for prognostic stratification (Strong Recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence).
Recommendation 18: We recommend that CMR imaging may be used when echocardiographic imaging (including contrast echocardiography) is non-diagnostic, or help to elucidate the etiologies (e.g., myocarditis) (Strong Recommendation, Low Quality Evidence).
Recommendation 19: We recommend that in a patient suspected of a cardiomyopathy, an inquiry should be made regarding family history, concomitant illnesses, prior malignancy requiring radiation or chemotherapy, symptoms of hypo- or hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, acromegaly, previous travel, occupational exposure to chemicals or heavy metals, nutritional status, alternative medicine or naturopathic agents, illicit drug use and exposure to HIV (Tables 6, 7, and 8) (Strong Recommendation, Low Quality Evidence).
Recommendation 20: We recommend that tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy should be suspected when left ventricular systolic dysfunction, with or without typical HF signs or symptoms, occurs with a persistent inappropriate tachycardia or tachyarrhythmia without another identified cause for the heart dysfunction (Strong Recommendation, Low Quality Evidence).
Practical tip: