Cardiogenic Shock and Respiratory Failure Complicating Takotsubo Syndrome

This study's purpose is to evaluate the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of patients presenting to the cardiac catheterization laboratory with takotsubo syndrome complicated by respiratory failure or shock.

The presentation of takotsubo syndrome mimics acute myocardial infarction. It is often diagnosed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory when no coronary obstruction is found. A subset of these patients develops shock or respiratory failure.

This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent cardiac catheterization at the Kaiser Permanente Southern California health system with takotsubo syndrome between 2006 to 2016. Medical records were manually reviewed to identify patient characteristics, treatment, and clinical outcomes.

Among 530 patients with takotsubo syndrome, 56 (10.6%) developed shock or respiratory failure and required mechanical or inotropic support. A higher proportion of these patients were men (14.3% vs 5.7%) and Black (10.7% vs 7.0%). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, factors associated with respiratory failure or shock were age (odds ratio [OR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-0.99; P=.02), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5; P=.02), chronic kidney disease (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.3-5.3; P=.01), physical trigger (OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 3.0-10.8; P<.01), and ST elevation on the presenting electrocardiogram (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.4-4.8; P=.04). Patients who required mechanical ventilation or inotropic support had significantly higher mortality (hazard ratio, 3.9; 95% CI, 2.1-7.1; P<.001).

Shock or respiratory failure occur in 10.6% of patients presenting with takotsubo syndrome. Men and patients with baseline respiratory or renal disease were disproportionally affected. These patients have significantly worse clinical outcomes.