Definition e The cardiomyopathies are a group of diseases that affect the heart muscle itself and are NoT the result of hypertension or congenital or acquired valvular, coronary, or pericardIa abnormalities Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases The cardiomyopathies are a group of diseases that affect the heart muscle itself and are NOT the result of hypertension or congenital or acquired valvular, coronary, or pericardial abnormalities