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Epidemiology of cardiomyopathies: essential context knowledge for a tailored clinical work-up
Daniele Pasqualucci1, Attilio Iacovoni2, Vittorio Palmieri3
1Department of Cardiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Brotzu, Piazzale Ricchi 1, 09134, Cagliari, Italy.
Insights
Cardiomyopathies (CMPs) are heart muscle disorders. This review examines CMP epidemiology in adults aged 18-55, proposing a diagnostic flowchart to improve diagnosis and assessment in younger populations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cardiomyopathies (CMPs) are primary myocardial disorders excluding other common cardiac conditions.
- Accurate incidence and prevalence data are crucial for clinical context and identifying under-reporting.
- Existing estimates predate widespread genetic testing and vary due to diverse data sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology of cardiomyopathies in individuals aged 18 to 55 years.
- To propose an updated diagnostic flowchart for CMPs in young adults.
- To reduce misdiagnosis in patients with unexplained cardiac conditions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on epidemiology of cardiomyopathies.
- Analysis of studies published before and after the advent of genetic testing.
- Development of a structured diagnostic algorithm for CMPs.
Main Results:
- Current epidemiological data for CMPs are limited by variability in population sources and diagnostic methods.
- Genetic testing has significantly impacted CMP diagnosis and classification.
- A need exists for standardized diagnostic approaches in specific age groups.
Conclusions:
- Epidemiological data on cardiomyopathies require updated methodologies, incorporating genetic insights.
- A standardized diagnostic flowchart can enhance accuracy for CMPs in the 18-55 age group.
- Improved diagnostic strategies are essential for managing cardiomyopathies in younger adults.
Abstract:
Cardiomyopathies (CMPs) are primary disorders of myocardial structure and function in the absence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, valvular disease, and congenital heart disease. Knowledge of the incidence and prevalence of CMPs may help clinicians to compare their observations in clinical practice with expected cases per person-year and to avoid under-reporting in clinical context. Currently, available estimates of prevalence and incidence of CMPs are based on clinical data, collected with a wide variability in population-source, and before the genetic testing evolved as a standard diagnostic tool. This review focuses on the epidemiology of CMPs in subjects aged between 18 and 55 years. A structured up-to-date diagnostic flow-chart for CMPs diagnosis and assessment is proposed to avoid misdiagnosis of CMPs in the young population and in subjects with unexplained cardiac disorders.
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