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Free Genetic Testing

Cardiomyopathy is a serious heart condition, and a leading cause of heart failure and sudden cardiac death.1 Many people don’t realize is that up to half of all cases are genetic, meaning the condition can run in families and affect multiple generations. 2, 3, 4

Genetic testing can help explain the cause of your cardiomyopathy, guide your treatment, and provide potentially life-saving information for your loved ones.5

Current medical guidelines recommend:

Genetic testing for people with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy
➤ when results may help clarify the cause or guide treatment

Genetic testing for close family members
➤ if a genetic cause is found, to help detect disease early and reduce the risk of serious complications

Despite this expert guidance, studies show that fewer than 2% of people with cardiomyopathy have had genetic testing, leaving many families without answers.7

To help close this gap, the Genetic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Consortium is helping connect patients with Everygene—a mission-driven company offering free clinical-grade genetic testing to cardiomyopathy patients meeting certain eligibility criteria, and at the patient’s election, pairs an independent licensed genetic counseling with its convenient, at-home testing—making it easier for patients to get the answers they need.


Who’s Eligible for Free Testing with Everygene?

Adults diagnosed with idiopathic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy
➤ This means the cause is unknown—not due to blocked arteries, high blood pressure, or valve disease.

Adults diagnosed with cardiomyopathy whose doctor suspects a genetic cause
    ➤ For example, if your doctor said it might run in the family or could be inherited.

Adults diagnosed with cardiomyopathy who had prior genetic testing but want updated results
➤ You may still benefit if your earlier test was inconclusive or done before newer panels were available.

Learn why re-testing is important.

What About Family Members?
If you test positive through Everygene for a genetic variant linked to cardiomyopathy, your close relatives, especially parents, siblings, and children, may also carry the same variant.⁵ Once a positive result is confirmed through Everygene, family members can be tested at a discounted rate of $349 per person.

REFERENCES

Polovina M, Tschöpe C, Rosano G, Metra M, Crea F, Mullens W, Bauersachs J, Sliwa K, de Boer RA, Farmakis D, Thum T, Corrado D, Bayes-Genis A, Bozkurt B, Filippatos G, Keren A, Skouri H, Moura B, Volterrani M, Abdelhamid M, Ašanin M, Krljanac G, Tomić M, Savarese G, Adamo M, Lopatin Y, Chioncel O, Coats AJS, Seferović PM. Incidence, risk assessment and prevention of sudden cardiac death in cardiomyopathies. Eur J Heart Fail. 2023 Dec;25(12):2144-2163. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.3076. Epub 2023 Nov 14. PMID: 37905371. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37905371/

Bozkurt B, Colvin M, Cook J, Cooper LT, Deswal A, Fonarow GC, Francis GS, Lenihan D, Lewis EF, McNamara DM, Pahl E, Vasan RS, Ramasubbu K, Rasmusson K, Towbin JA, Yancy C; American Heart Association Committee on Heart Failure and Transplantation of the Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Epidemiology and Prevention; and Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research. Current
Diagnostic and Treatment Strategies for Specific Dilated Cardiomyopathies: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2016 Dec 6;134(23):e579-e646. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000455. Epub 2016 Nov 3. Erratum in: Circulation. 2016 Dec 6;134(23):e652. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000474. PMID: 27832612. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27832612/

Ahmad F, McNally EM, Ackerman MJ, Baty LC, Day SM, Kullo IJ, Madueme PC, Maron MS, Martinez MW, Salberg L, Taylor MR, Wilcox JE. Establishment of Specialized Clinical Cardiovascular Genetics Programs: Recognizing the Need and Meeting Standards: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circ Genom Precis Med. 2019 Jun;12(6):e000054. doi: 10.1161/HCG.0000000000000054. Epub 2019 May 23. PMID: 31117808. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31117808/

Hershberger RE, Givertz MM, Ho CY, Judge DP, Kantor PF, McBride KL, Morales A, Taylor MRG, Vatta M, Ware SM. Genetic Evaluation of Cardiomyopathy-A Heart Failure Society of America Practice Guideline. J Card Fail. 2018 May;24(5):281-302. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2018.03.004. Epub 2018 Mar 19. PMID: 29567486; PMCID: PMC9903357. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29567486/

Heidenreich PA, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, Allen LA, Byun JJ, Colvin MM, Deswal A, Drazner MH, Dunlay SM, Evers LR, Fang JC, Fedson SE, Fonarow GC, Hayek SS, Hernandez AF, Khazanie P, Kittleson MM, Lee CS, Link MS, Milano CA, Nnacheta LC, Sandhu AT, Stevenson LW, Vardeny O, Vest AR, Yancy CW. 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am
Coll Cardiol. 2022 May 3;79(17):e263-e421. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.012. Epub 2022 Apr 1. Erratum in: J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023 Apr 18;81(15):1551. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.03.002. PMID: 35379503. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35379503/

Heidenreich PA, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, Allen LA, Byun JJ, Colvin MM, Deswal A, Drazner MH, Dunlay SM, Evers LR, Fang JC, Fedson SE, Fonarow GC, Hayek SS, Hernandez AF, Khazanie P, Kittleson MM, Lee CS, Link MS, Milano CA, Nnacheta LC, Sandhu AT, Stevenson LW, Vardeny O, Vest AR, Yancy CW. 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am
Coll Cardiol. 2022 May 3;79(17):e263-e421. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.012. Epub 2022 Apr 1. Erratum in: J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023 Apr 18;81(15):1551. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.03.002. PMID: 35379503. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35379503/

Morales A, Moretz C, Ren S, Smith E, Callis TE, Hall T, Hatchell KE, Nussbaum RL, Regalado E, Rojahn S, Vatta M, Esplin ED, Murillo J. Real-World Genetic Testing Utilization Among Patients With Cardiomyopathy. Circ Genom Precis Med. 2024 Feb;17(1):e004028. doi: 10.1161/CIRCGEN.122.004028. Epub 2023 Dec 13. PMID: 38088168. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38088168/

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