Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as broken heart syndrome, is associated with a high rate of death and complications, and those rates were unchanged between 2016 and 2020, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a stress-related heart condition where part of the heart temporarily enlarges and doesn’t pump well.
It is typically triggered by a surge of stress hormones following emotionally or physically stressful events like the death of a loved one.
The symptoms and test results often mimic those of a heart attack, but Takotsubo cardiomyopathy can be fatal and may be misdiagnosed.
This study, one of the largest of its kind, assessed in-hospital death rates and complications over a five-year period. According to study author M. Reza Movahed, M.D., Ph.D., the consistently high mortality rate over time is concerning and highlights the need for better treatments and therapeutic approaches.
Researchers used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to review health records from 2016 to 2020. Key findings include:
– The overall in-hospital death rate was 6.5%, with no improvements during the study period.
– Men had a mortality rate of 11.2%, more than double the 5.5% rate for women.
– Major complications included congestive heart failure (35.9%), atrial fibrillation (20.7%), cardiogenic shock (6.6%), stroke (5.3%), and cardiac arrest (3.4%).
– Adults over 61 had the highest incidence, but rates were 2.6 to 3.25 times higher in the 46-60 age group compared to those aged 31-45.
– White adults had the highest incidence (0.16%), followed by Native Americans (0.13%) and Black adults (0.07%).
– Socioeconomic factors also showed significant variation across patients.
Movahed emphasized that Takotsubo cardiomyopathy should not be underestimated. Physicians should carefully review coronary angiograms, monitor patients closely for complications, and initiate appropriate treatments such as anti-clotting medications when necessary.
He also pointed out that Takotsubo cardiomyopathy should not be viewed as a condition exclusive to the elderly and suggested that age-related trends could help distinguish it from heart attacks.
The study’s limitations include potential coding errors, lack of outpatient data, and limited information on specific types of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or co-existing conditions.
The analysis covered 199,890 U.S. adults (average age 67), with 83% of cases occurring in women and 80% among White adults. The data came from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the largest publicly available source of hospital care data in the U.S.
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The study is published in Journal of the American Heart Association.
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