Epidemiology and global burden of cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a rare but serious cardiac disorder of the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathies can manifest as a primary disease or as secondary to another systemic disease or disorder. The burden of this disease is substantial and occurs worldwide, across all ages, sexes, and ethnic groups. Improving the prevention and treatment of this disease depends on the ability to assess the epidemiology and effects of the disease on the general population. This chapter examines data from the Global Burden of Disease 2013 database to report on the global burden of primary cardiomyopathies, and study findings.