Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB) life expectancy?

Here is an article from the NIH about LBBB - it sounds like your life expectancy is similar to other people of your same age:

What is the life expectancy of someone with LBBB?
Patients with isolated LBBB and no associated structural heart disease, ventricular dysfunction, or CAD have 10-year mortality that is comparable to that of similar-aged individuals. In addition, these patients have a low rate of cardiomyopathy and heart failure hospitalizations.

I can only share my experience of LBBB with you. Life expectancy is a bit above my pay grade.
LBBB, on its own, seems to have little negative impact on life expectancy. I was diagnosed with it about 30 years ago. It was mentioned to me at that time that a pacemaker was in my future . That is because LBBB is an electrical problem and a pacemaker will correct it. Some 25 years later, that became the case.
Until that time, however, LBBB did not cause me any concerns. And, by the way, I am 70 now.
As for your diagnosis of idiopathic cardiomyopathy, I have Dilated Cardiomyopathy, with LBBB which has resulted in heart failure. Since I have never had a MI nor do I have any arterial issues, it is considered idiopathic, although possibly caused by a virus. And you mention your EF rate at 35%, which is below the 50 to 70 % range. Have you been diagnosed with heart failure as well?
In 2022, I was given a Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) device, complete with a defibrillator. A biventricular pacemaker. Sounds scary but, honestly, it has saved my life. Amazing technology! My EF went from 19% at the time of surgery to over 50% just 6 months later. And it is still there. My quality of life is outstanding because of the device.
I am also on some medications which reduce the work load for my heart - a beta blocker and Entresto. But, by far and away, the main reason I have improved so much is because of the CRT.
Have your physicians indicated any course of treatment? Are they considering any kind of cardiac device? Although it is probably the last thing you want to think about, there are literally millions of people in North America with one of some description. Pacemakers are tried and true technology.
Try not to worry. There are answers for your condition. Relatively simple ones. You have a long, full life ahead of you.
Best wishes.

I'm very happy to see this comprehensive post by cottagecountry. Nice job! Also the previous one by healthseeker77.

I won't comment because this is not my area of study, except that I wouldn't sweat the below-average EF just now. If it's not valvular in origin, and just an electrical disorder that's causing the problem, that can usually be fixed electrically, even if having to implant a pacemaker. I wish I could offer something encouraging about the ideopathy cardiomyopathy, but that, too, is outside my grasp at present.
I wish you success, and more feedback and info!

@dizzyprizzy
I was diagnosed in the 1989 with a LBBB. No cause found as had catherization and belived a virus got into heart (based on my symptoms prior to routine stress test where they found it).

In 2000 I was diagnozed with heart failure. My EF was in the 30s. My EF went below 30 and got an ICD pacemaker in 2006. I am now 77 years old. I exercise every day and do Sprint Triathlons. I have no exercise restrictions other than not to overdue it and that is for anyone my age. Exercise if important to keep you heart muscle from getting any weaker.

My EF now has been at 20-25 since 2016. In addition to ICD/Pacemaker I am on Entresto and Coreg. I expect to live a very long life and have already done 2 sprint trialthons this year and have another one coming up on June 8th.

Heart failure is a terrrible term. It DOES NOT mean the heart has failed. It means your heart EF is not the normal amount. Many things can cause HF including the biggest cause high blood pressure. Don't get depressed talke to your doctor about exercise and hobbies that you like and your doctor says you can do and do them. Do things in life that bring you happines as your mental outlook is just as important and your physical.
Good luck

I agree, the term is rather unfortunate, almost grossly misleading. Cardiac insufficiency, with grades, is the way to go IMO. But, nobody will pay me for that, so.... 🙂

@gloaming
Yes! When they use the term and diagnosis of heart failure the patient experiences extreme stress most of the time. The term is terrible. I like Reduced Heart Function and call is RHF. This more accurately describes the condition. Heart failure means heart has failed and it has NOT.

Come on caridologist think about mental and psychiatric aspects of diagnosis.

Thanks to all regarding LBBB life expectancy. The NIH article was and was not helpful because it says people with my condition, male or female, have not been studied. I have heart failure due to complete LBBB (His-Purkinji) location. No heart disease or other morbidity concerns. EF 35%. I recognize that a CRT may be in my future should my EF go below 29% and insurance will then cover it. Cardio Rehab workouts raise my PVCs to frequent occasions with mild exercise and include clustered quadrilles and triplets depending on the day. These clustered PVCs are to be avoided.

dizzyprizzy,
When I was diagnosed with LBBB the cardiolgist told me it is common and pilots are allowed to fly with it. It is an electrical problem.

Heart failure is and should by your concern and keeping your EF from not doing lower. Have you tried magnesium (check with your doctor) to help with PVCs? It helped me but was told everyone reacts differently to it.