Which underlying condition commonly leads to ischemic cardiomyopathy?

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is primarily caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle due to coronary artery disease (CAD). This underlying condition occurs when the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart, become narrowed or blocked, often due to atherosclerosis. Over time, this lack of adequate blood supply results in damage to the myocardial tissue, leading to ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Patients with CAD may experience symptoms such as chest pain (angina) or can lead to a myocardial infarction (heart attack), further exacerbating heart function and contributing to the development of ischemic cardiomyopathy. The heart becomes weakened and unable to pump blood effectively as a result of this ischemia.

In contrast, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy refers to a genetic condition marked by the thickening of the heart muscle, restrictive cardiomyopathy results from conditions that cause the heart muscle to become rigid, and valvular heart disease involves damage to or abnormalities in the heart valves. While these conditions can affect heart function, they do not typically result from or lead to ischemic cardiomyopathy directly in the same way that coronary artery disease does.