Epidemiology

Given cardiac tamponade is caused by any disorder that results in pericardial effusion, its epidemiology is directly related to the epidemiology of the causative conditions and risk factors for those disease states. Few direct epidemiological data exist for cardiac tamponade in the literature.[12]​

Cardiac tamponade may occur in up to 13% of patients hospitalised with acute pericarditis and incidence has been shown to be 30% to 44% in patients with large, chronic pericardial effusions (>10 mm on echocardiogram).[13][14][15]​​​​​ It is more common in patients with specific underlying causes such as malignancy (particularly lung and breast cancer), purulent pericarditis, and tuberculosis, but rarer in patients with acute idiopathic pericarditis.[15][16][17]​​​​​​

In people from endemic regions, tuberculosis pericarditis remains a prominent cause of pericardial effusion and tamponade.[18][19] Cardiac tamponade can occur at any age but is most commonly seen in middle-aged and older populations, though this depends on the underlying cause.[14][16]​​​​

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