Hospital readmission following takotsubo syndrome

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction with symptoms and electrocardiographic changes mimicking acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The objective of this study was to evaluate in-hospital death and hospital readmission in patients with TTS and to compare outcomes to patients with AMI.

Patients diagnosed with TTS and AMI were identified using the United States Nationwide Readmission Database from 2010 to 2014. In-hospital outcomes for the index admission, and rates and causes of 30 day readmissions were compared between TTS patients and AMI patients without TTS. Sixty-one thousand, four hundred, and twelve patients with TTS and 3 470 011 patients with AMI without TTS were identified. Patients with TTS were younger, more often women (89% vs. 41%), and less likely to have cardiovascular risk factors than AMI patients. Mortality during the index admission was lower in TTS compared with AMI (2.3% vs. 10.2%, P < 0.0001). Cardiogenic shock occurred at the same frequency (5.7%) with TTS or AMI. Among TTS survivors, 7132 patients (11.9%) were readmitted within 30 days, and mortality associated with readmission was 3.5%. The most common reason for readmission after TTS was heart failure (HF; 10.6% of readmissions).

Takotsubo syndrome is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Although outcomes are more favourable than AMI, approximately 2% of patients died in hospital and approximately 12% of survivors were readmitted within 30 days; HF was the most frequent indication for rehospitalization. Careful outpatient follow-up of TTS patients may be warranted to avoid readmissions.