Dilated cardiomyopathy

Alternative names:

cardiomyopathy - dilated

Definition:

A group of disorders in which the heart muscle is weakened and cannot pump blood efficiently. Decreased heart function affects the lungs, liver, and other body systems.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The causes of cardiomyopathy are multiple and may include nutritional deficiencies, deposits in the heart muscle associated with amyloidosis or other medical conditions, anemia, stress, viral infections (rare), alcoholism (alcoholic cardiomyopathy), coronary artery disease, and others. In some cases, no cause is identified (idiopathic cardiomyopathy).

Enlargement of the heart muscle (dilated cardiomyopathy) is the most common type of cardiomyopathy. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is another type that occurs when there is damage to the heart and scarring (fibrosis) or deposits develop in the heart muscle.

Some of the risk factors include obesity, having a personal or family history of cardiac disorders such as myocarditis, use of certain medications (such as diuretics), smoking, and alcoholism.

Dilated cardiomyopathy occurs in approximately 2 out of 100 people. It can affect all ages and both sexes, but is most common in adult men.