The NICM medical abbreviation stands for nonischemic cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle that is not caused by narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. In most notes it describes a heart that pumps weakly, often with a reduced ejection fraction.
NICM is a label of exclusion: it tells you the care team looked for coronary artery disease and did not find it to be the cause. This page explains the name, lists common causes, decodes sample chart lines and compares NICM with its counterpart, ischemic cardiomyopathy.
At a glance
Breaking down the NICM medical abbreviation
Cardiomyopathy means disease of the heart muscle. Ischemic refers to damage from reduced blood flow, usually from coronary artery disease or past heart attacks. Adding non in front means the muscle problem has some other cause.
Most notes that say NICM describe a dilated, weakened left ventricle that does not squeeze well. The term can also include other nonischemic forms, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, written as HCM, but many clinicians use NICM mainly for the weakened, dilated type.
Common causes of nonischemic cardiomyopathy
| Cause | Brief note |
|---|---|
| Idiopathic | No clear cause found, which is common |
| Genetic | Runs in families; relatives may be offered screening |
| Viral myocarditis | Heart muscle inflammation after an infection |
| Alcohol | Long term heavy use can weaken the muscle |
| Some cancer treatments | Certain chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin |
| Fast heart rhythms | Tachycardia induced, may improve once the rhythm is controlled |
| Pregnancy related | Peripartum cardiomyopathy, near the end of pregnancy or after delivery |
Finding the cause can change treatment and outlook, so workups often include imaging, blood tests and sometimes genetic testing.
Reading NICM in a cardiology note
Heart failure notes are full of shorthand. Here is one sample line decoded.
| Shorthand | Meaning |
|---|---|
| PMH | Past medical history |
| NICM | Nonischemic cardiomyopathy |
| LVEF 30% | Left ventricular ejection fraction of 30 percent, lower than usual |
| s/p AICD | Status post implanted defibrillator |
| on GDMT | Taking guideline directed medical therapy for heart failure |
Cath report summary: "Nonobstructive coronaries, consistent with NICM." A heart catheterization, noted as LHC, showed no significant blockages, which supports the nonischemic label.
NICM versus ischemic cardiomyopathy
The two terms describe the same end result, a weakened heart muscle, but from different causes.
| Feature | NICM | ICM |
|---|---|---|
| Main cause | Something other than blocked arteries | Coronary artery disease or past heart attacks |
| Key test result | Coronary arteries without major blockages | Significant coronary narrowing |
| Treatment focus | Heart failure medicines, treating the specific cause | Heart failure medicines plus treating the blockages |
Some people with NICM see their pumping strength improve with treatment, which is sometimes written as heart failure with improved ejection fraction.
Devices and treatments seen with NICM
Many NICM charts list standard heart failure medicines under GDMT. When pumping strength stays low, often around an ejection fraction of 35 percent or less despite treatment, cardiologists may discuss an implanted defibrillator, an AICD, and sometimes a pacemaker that coordinates both ventricles, called CRT. Advanced cases can involve an LVAD or transplant evaluation.
The diagnosis abbreviations guide lists more heart condition shorthand.
Questions worth asking your heart team
If NICM shows up in your records, it can help to ask what cause was found or suspected, what your current ejection fraction is and how often it will be rechecked, whether family members should be screened, and which symptoms such as swelling, weight gain or breathlessness should prompt a call. Bringing an up to date medication list to every visit helps the team adjust treatment safely.
Use this as background on a cardiology abbreviation only. Your own echo numbers and treatment choices are best reviewed with your cardiologist.
Frequently asked questions
What does NICM mean in cardiology?
It means nonischemic cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disease that is not caused by coronary artery disease. It often comes with a reduced ejection fraction.
How is NICM different from ICM?
ICM, ischemic cardiomyopathy, results from blocked arteries or heart attacks. NICM has another cause, such as genetics, infection, alcohol or certain medicines.
Is NICM the same as heart failure?
Not exactly. NICM names the muscle disease, while heart failure describes the symptoms and pumping problem it can cause. Many people with NICM also carry a heart failure diagnosis.
How do doctors know cardiomyopathy is nonischemic?
They look for coronary artery disease, often with a heart catheterization or a CT scan of the coronary arteries. If no major blockages explain the weakness, the cardiomyopathy is called nonischemic.