Cardiomyopathy risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Edzel Lorraine Co, DMD, MD[2]

Some of the risk factors for developing cardiomyopathy include; a family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure, or sudden death, a history of other diseases that may lead to cardiomyopathy, obesity, alcoholism, and long standing high blood pressure. Certain diseases such as hemachromotosis, amyloidosis, and sarcoidosis also increase the risk of developing cardiomyopathy.

Certain diseases, conditions, or factors can raise the risk for cardiomyopathy. Major risk factors include:^[1][2]

• A family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure, or sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)
• A disease or condition that can lead to cardiomyopathy, such as coronary heart disease, heart attack, or a viral infection that inflames the heart muscle
• Diabetes or other metabolic diseases, or severe obesity
• Diseases that can damage the heart, such as hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis, or amyloidosis
• Long-term alcoholism
• Long-term high blood pressure