Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heart condition caused by the thickening and stiffening of the heart's muscle.1
HCM can be categorised into two main types:1
- Obstructive HCM (oHCM) – the thickened heart muscle makes it harder to pump blood around the body.
- Non-obstructive HCM – the heart muscle thickens, but it doesn't impede the flow of blood out of the heart.
HCM is an inherited condition in up to 60% of cases, which is caused by a change or mutation in one or more genes that affect the heart muscle's characteristics.2 This means it is mostly passed on through families.
Prevalence of HCM
HCM is a surprisingly common condition, affecting an estimated 1 in 500 people in the UK.3
It's important to note that a significant portion of individuals with HCM may not experience noticeable symptoms, which often results in HCM cases going undiagnosed.4
Signs and symptoms of HCM
HCM can manifest with a range of symptoms, though many individuals do not exhibit any noticeable signs.3
Common symptoms of HCM include heart palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, and persistent fatigue.1,3
While symptoms can appear at any age, they most commonly appear in people in their twenties.5
HCM can lead to more severe complications, such as an elevated risk of sudden cardiac death and an increased likelihood of developing arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, heart failure and stroke.1
Please note that the symptoms listed above are not exhaustive and may not be related to HCM.
Always consult your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for medical advice.
Treatment and management of HCM
Management is largely decided on an individual basis, and some people may not require any treatment at all.1,3
Disease management can include1:
- Lifestyle changes (e.g. regular exercise, a balanced diet and stress management)
- Pharmaceutical interventions
- Surgical interventions (e.g. a pacemaker)
Living With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Understanding the real-life experiences of people living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is key to shaping care that truly meets individual needs. By listening to personal stories and recognising the challenges and gaps in care, we can work together to help ensure everyone with HCM feels supported to live a full and empowered life.
In June 2025, we launched a new exploratory whitepaper, “Living with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy,” which brings together insights into lived experiences, highlights challenges in access to care, and explores key opportunities to improve support.
You can read a copy of the report here.
References
1 Cardiomyopathy UK. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: An introduction to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or ‘HCM’. Available at: https://www.cardiomyopathy.org/sites/default/files/2022-02/Hypertrophic%20cardiomyopathy%20factsheet%20January%202022.pdf
Accessed January 2026.
2 Marian, A., Braunwald, E., 2017. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Genetics, Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Therapy. Circulation research, 121(7), 749–770. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5654557/#:~:text=Approximately%2060%25%20of%20patients%20with,such%20as%20Fabry%20disease%2018.
Accessed January 2026.
3 British Heart Foundation. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/cardiomyopathy/hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy. Accessed January 2026.
4 Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association. What symptoms does hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cause? Available at: https://4hcm.org/hcm-symptoms/.
Accessed January 2026.
5 Basit H, et al. (2022) Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430788/.
Accessed January 2026.
January 2026 | CV-GB-2500231