Assessing the global and regional impact of primary cardiomyopathies: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors (GBD 2010) Study

Primary cardiomyopathies affect individuals of all ages and ethnic groups in all regions of the world and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Though these conditions are globally prevalent, lack of rigorous epidemiological analysis on a worldwide scale has prevented accurate estimates of the burden of this subset of cardiac diseases on regional populations. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors (GBD 2010) Study was designed to address such analytical shortfalls by delivering data-driven estimates of epidemiological parameters for nearly 200 diseases and injuries, including the primary cardiomyopathies. The methodology utilized to generate GBD 2010 disease burden estimates for the primary cardiomyopathies is described. Preliminary epidemiologic data for the study's 21 global regions is then presented and discussed, along with evaluation of challenges and future opportunities in addressing the burden of primary cardiomyopathies. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.