BACKGROUND: Nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathies (DCM) are the most common reason for heart failure in developed countries after ischemic disease. They often lead to device therapy. Left ventricular ejection fraction as a single parameter to identify patients at risk for sudden cardiac death revealed inconclusive data in patients with DCM. METHODS: Autonomic tone, measured by classical and innovative parameters of heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate turbulence or baroreceptor reflex, was demonstrated to give valuable prognostic information especially in patients with ischemic disease and after acute myocardial infarction. In patients with DCM, classical parameters of HRV showed inhomogeneous data in a heterogeneous patient collective caused by unsystematic measurement of single parameters in various patient collectives. RESULTS: Innovative parameters of HRV are promising in patients with DCM and showed prognostic relevance although patient numbers are limited and prospective data are missing. Further studies are needed in this field. CONCLUSION: Despite the in part convincing evidence for the relevance of autonomic tone as a prognostic marker in patients with DCM, their evaluation is still not part of clinical routine. Additional parameters to estimate the risk of sudden cardiac death are urgently needed.