It’s not a fairy tale.
A condition often referred to as “broken heart syndrome,” medically known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is more than a poetic term—it’s a serious heart condition linked to emotional or physical stress and poses significant health risks. According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association on May 14, the syndrome has a concerning rate of mortality and complications. Researchers found that nearly 7% of individuals diagnosed with the condition between 2016 and 2020 died, a rate significantly higher than the 2% death rate observed among individuals without it.
Interestingly, while the vast majority of those diagnosed—83%—were women, men experienced higher mortality rates. The study revealed that about 11% of male patients with the syndrome died, compared to just over 5% of female patients. Dr. Mohammad Reza Movahed, the study’s lead author and a cardiologist at the University of Arizona, expressed concern over the persistently high death rates and emphasized the need for more effective treatments and clinical strategies.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy typically results from a sudden surge of stress hormones, often triggered by events such as grief, trauma, or physical strain. The condition causes part of the heart to temporarily weaken and struggle to pump efficiently, heightening the risk of heart failure or other serious outcomes. Researchers analyzed nationwide hospital data and found that diagnoses slightly rose during the study period—from about 39,000 in 2016 to over 41,000 in 2020.
Complications were common and included congestive heart failure (36%), atrial fibrillation (21%), cardiogenic shock (7%), stroke (5%), and cardiac arrest (3%). Patients with Takotsubo were significantly more likely to experience these issues compared to others. For instance, they were nearly 13 times more likely to suffer cardiogenic shock and almost five times more likely to go into cardiac arrest.
The condition was most prevalent in individuals over 61, though people aged 46 to 60 also faced significantly higher risks than younger adults. Given the potential severity, Dr. Movahed urged for prompt diagnosis and careful monitoring of patients. He also stressed the importance of further research to develop better therapies for those affected by this emotionally driven cardiac disorder.
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