Who Is At Risk for Cardiomyopathy?

Populations Affected

People of all ages can develop cardiomyopathy, but certain cardiomyopathies are more common in certain groups:

• African Americans are more likely to have dilated cardiomyopathy compared to Caucasians.
• Men are more likely to have dilated cardiomyopathy compared to women.
• Teens and young adults are more likely to have arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia compared to older people.

Major Risk Factors

Major risk factors for developing cardiomyopathy include:

• Having a family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death
• Having a disease or condition that can lead to cardiomyopathy, such as:
  • Coronary artery disease
  • A previous heart attack
  • Myocarditis
• Diseases that can damage the heart (for example, hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis, or amyloidosis)
• Long-term alcoholism
• Long-term high blood pressure
• Diabetes and other metabolic diseases

Some people with cardiomyopathy never have symptoms. That is why it's important to identify people who may be at high risk for this disease so that potential problems (such as serious arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death) can be prevented.