Overview

• A Journal of the American Heart Association study analyzed nearly 200,000 U.S. hospitalizations for takotsubo cardiomyopathy from 2016 to 2020.
• Men with the condition had an in-hospital mortality rate of 11.2%, more than double the 5.5% rate observed in women.
• Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also called 'broken heart syndrome,' mimics heart attack symptoms and is triggered by physical or emotional stress.
• Researchers suggest differing stress triggers and social support gaps may contribute to the higher male mortality rate, though mechanisms remain unclear.
• The study underscores the need for improved awareness, targeted research, and the development of effective therapies to address persistent mortality rates.