A recent study by researchers at the University of Arizona found that takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or “broken heart syndrome,” is becoming more common in the US, with a higher death rate among men than women. The condition, which causes the heart to weaken due to physical or emotional stress, has seen a slight increase in incidence over the past five years, particularly among females.
Researchers analyzed data from 199,890 patients between 2016 and 2020 and found that fatalities and complications caused by TC were relatively high. Despite being more common in women, deaths from TC were nearly twice as likely in men, with a mortality rate of 11.2%. The overall death rate was 6.5%.
The study’s lead researcher, M. Reza Movahed, attributes the higher mortality rate among men to physical stress factors such as surgery or infection, which may explain why TC is more common in men. Hormone balances between the sexes are also thought to play a role in the difference.
Common complications of TC include congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and cardiac arrest. To address this issue, Movahed suggests that early initiation of anti-clotting medications could prevent some complications. However, more research is needed to better understand the condition, its detection methods, and ways to reduce risk.
The study’s findings are published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, emphasizing the need for further investigation into “broken heart syndrome” and its potential therapeutic approaches.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/men-are-dying-from-broken-heart-syndrome-at-twice-the-rate-of-women