临床表现极其多样化且症状常常为隐匿性发作,使得难以确定心肌炎的真正发病率和患病率。尸检研究结果显示 1%-9% 的常规尸体剖检中存在心肌炎,一项对年轻成人的心源性猝死进行的前瞻性尸体剖检研究表明,心肌炎是约 10% 的病例的病因。[14]Blankenhorn MA, Gall EA. Myocarditis and myocardosis; a clinicopathologic appraisal. Circulation. 1956 Feb;13(2):217-23.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13356381?tool=bestpractice.com[15]Doolan A, Langlois N, Semsarian C. Causes of sudden cardiac death in young Australians. Med J Aust. 2004 Feb 2;180(3):110-2.https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2004/180/3/causes-sudden-cardiac-death-young-australianshttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14748671?tool=bestpractice.com 此外,一项对扩张型心肌病患者进行的大规模前瞻性临床试验显示,心肌炎是 9% 的患者的发病病因。[16]Felker GM, Hu W, Hare JM, et al. The spectrum of dilated cardiomyopathy. The Johns Hopkins experience with 1,278 patients. Medicine (Baltimore). 1999 Jul;78(4):270-83.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10424207?tool=bestpractice.com