Mainstreaming Genetic Testing for Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy in Western Canada (HOGI)

Mainstreaming Genetic Testing for Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy in Western Canada: A Family-Centered and Genome-First Approach to a Common and Life-Threatening Cardiomyopathy

Heart muscle disorders are a common cause of heart failure: a life-threatening condition that can cause dangerous abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia) and a buildup of fluid in the body (edema). In British Columbia (BC) and Alberta, patients with heart failure are cared for in specialized Heart Function Clinics (HFC). Providers in these clinics rapidly diagnose and treat heart failure because early treatment prevents death and disability. In some situations, particularly in young people, heart failure is caused by abnormalities in the genetic blueprint of the heart muscle - this is present at birth and passed down within families (i.e. hereditary). The investigators can diagnose this genetic abnormality by a simple blood or saliva test, which allows for better treatment of patients and diagnosis of family members to protect against heart failure and death. In BC and Alberta, people suspected of having this form of heart failure must be referred to highly specialized programs to receive genetic testing, as these healthcare systems currently do not offer genetic testing through HFCs. However, HFC providers are unaware or discouraged to refer patients because of very long waitlists of these programs. In this study, the investigators want to educate, enable, and empower HFC cardiologists to order genetic testing for heart failure. If such an intervention demonstrates success in this study, patients will no longer have to wait for up to 3 years to see a genetic specialist. Patients will be diagnosed and treated earlier, and their family members who might be in danger of having the condition can be informed more quickly. The investigators aim to leverage this study to encourage healthcare leadership to facilitate more timely access to genetic testing by showing the positive impact on health outcomes.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy; Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Health service delivery change

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 300
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Alberta
    • Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N2T9
      • Foothills Medical Centre Cardiac Function Clinic
    • Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T1Y6J4
      • Peter Lougheed Centre Cardiac Function Clinic
  • British Columbia
    • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 1M9
      • Vancouver General Hospital Cardiac Function Clinic
    • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6Z1Y6
      • St. Paul's Hospital Heart Function Clinic

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. 18 years of age or older
2. Clinical eligibility for non-ischemic cardiomyopathy/dilated cardiomyopathy (NICM/DCM) genetic testing, per existing clinical criteria in each respective province a. BC sites - presence of NICM/DCM with at least one of the following: i. Family history of NICM/DCM ii. Evidence of conduction disease iii. Arrhythmia (Ventricular or atrial) iv. Unexplained cardiomyopathy under 70 years v. Suggestive syndrome(s)

Alberta sites - Left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 50% and any degree of left or right ventricular dilation

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Previously known genetic result that explains NICM/DCM
2. Under age 18 years
3. Declines genetic testing

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Mainstreamed Genetic Testing through Heart Function Clinics; Mainstreamed genetic testing offered directly by the Heart Function Clinic cardiologist with video-based genetic counselling tools	Other: Health service delivery change; Genetic testing for patients with unexplained non-ischemic cardiomyopathy offered directly by cardiologists in Heart Function Clinics
No Intervention: Traditional Referral Pathway for Genetic Testing; Traditional referral pathway to a specialized cardiac genetics clinic

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Uptake of genetic testing for non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM)	Proportion of eligible patients who complete clinical genetic testing for non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) following referral from a Heart Function Clinic.	Through 12 months after first participant enrollment
Time to genotypic diagnosis	Time (in days) from the date informed consent for genetic testing is signed to the date genetic test results are returned.	Up to 12 months after consent for genetic testing is provided.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of participants with a change in clinical management following genetic test results	Change in clinical management is defined as the initiation, discontinuation, or modification of at least one of the following, documented in the medical record after return of genetic test results: Heart failure pharmacotherapy; Cardiac device therapy (e.g., implantable cardioverter-defibrillator [ICD], cardiac resynchronization therapy [CRT]) or transplantation; Referral to specialized services (e.g., inherited cardiomyopathy clinic, genetic counseling); Pregnancy-related guidance or referral; Family cascade testing or screening recommendations	Up to 12 months after return of genetic test results
Patient-reported satisfaction, knowledge, and decision quality related to genetic testing	Patient-reported outcomes assessed using a study-specific survey administered after receipt of information about genetic testing and discussion with a heart specialist. The survey includes: Knowledge items assessed using true/false/"I don't know" questions related to inherited heart disease and genetic testing Attitudinal items assessing views on genetic testing using 5-point Likert scales, where higher scores indicate more favorable views Experience and process items assessed using yes/no questions (e.g., whether sufficient time was provided) Decision satisfaction and decision quality items assessed using 5-point Likert scales ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5), with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction and alignment with personal values	At 12 months after first participant enrollment
Proportion of participants with a change to family screening recommendations following genetic test results	Change in family screening recommendations is defined as any new, modified, or discontinued recommendation for screening of first- or second-degree relatives documented in the participant's medical record after return of genetic test results. This includes, but is not limited to: Initiation of cascade genetic testing for relatives; Recommendations for cardiac imaging or surveillance in family members; Changes in age of screening initiation or screening interval; Determination that no family screening is recommended	Up to 12 months after return of genetic test results

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Thomas Roston
• Collaborators: University of Calgary; Genome British Columbia; Genome Alberta
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Thomas Roston, MD/PhD, University of British Columbia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 2, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 2, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 6, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): January 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 4, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Laminopathies; Cardiovascular Diseases; Heart Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Cardiomyopathies; Cardiomegaly; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated
• Other Study ID Numbers: H25-02075

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No