Short and long-term outcome of stress-induced cardiomyopathy: what can we expect?

Stress-induced/Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is an increasingly recognized diagnostic entity.

This study was aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical predictors of short and long-term outcome of patients (pts) diagnosed with TC.

We included all consecutive pts admitted in our department, from November 2006 to August 2011, who met the Mayo Clinic criteria for TC diagnosis.

We evaluated 37 pts (35 women) with a mean age of 63 ± 13 years. TC was precipitated by a stressful emotional event in the majority (57%) and chest pain was the most common symptom (89%). Twelve pts (32%) had ST-segment elevation and 15 pts (41%) had T-wave inversion on the electrocardiogram at admission. Severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction was found in 16 pts (43%) and the mean troponin I level was 2.6 ± 1.8 ng/mL. The in-hospital complication rate was 30%, with cardiogenic shock being the most common situation. Physical stress, severe LV systolic dysfunction and peak brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were predictors of acute complications. On the other hand, we found no association between peak troponin I and electrocardiographic presentation. Thirty-five pts were followed for a mean time of 482 ± 512 days, without clinic recurrence.

In our cohort of pts, TC was associated with a high in-hospital complications rate. Physical stress, LV dysfunction and peak BNP could predict acute adverse outcomes.