What risk is increased in patients with cardiomyopathy?

In patients with cardiomyopathy, the development of arrhythmias is significantly increased due to several underlying mechanisms associated with the condition. Cardiomyopathy often leads to structural and electrical remodeling of the heart muscle, which can disrupt the normal conduction pathways and increase susceptibility to abnormal heart rhythms.

As the heart muscle weakens and becomes less efficient, it can also lead to changes in the electrical properties of the myocardial tissue. This disruption can result in a range of arrhythmias, from atrial fibrillation to potentially life-threatening ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. The risk of arrhythmias is particularly pronounced in certain types of cardiomyopathy, such as dilated cardiomyopathy, where the enlargement of the heart chambers may further contribute to the development of irregular heartbeats.

Other risks associated with cardiomyopathy, such as cardiac arrest and heart block, may also be relevant, but they are often direct consequences of the arrhythmias that can arise from the condition. Hypertension is generally a separate issue that may contribute to the progression of cardiomyopathy, but it is not an increased risk specifically attributed to the pathophysiology of cardiomyopathy itself like arrhythmias are. Thus, the elevation of arrhythmias is a