Risk Factors for Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy

 

Risk factors for alcoholic cardiomyopathy:

(1) heavy, daily alcohol use (>= 7 standard drinks or > 90 grams of alcohol per day)

(2) for prolonged periods of time (> 5 years, with many patients drinking > 15 years)

(3) continuing to drink heavily once symptomatic

 

Factors reducing the risk:

(1) prolonged abstinence

 

Other factors that may contribute to other forms of cardiomyopathy:

(1) malnutrition with thiamine deficiency (beriberi)

(2) concomitant drug abuse (cocaine, other)

(3) untreated hypertension

(4) coronary artery disease