What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Stress (Tako-Tsubo) Cardiomyopathy (n=136). Primary outcome: All-cause mortality during follow-up (p=0.016).

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to comprehensively outline the clinical spectrum and outcomes of stress cardiomyopathy beyond the initial event.

May 14, 2026

Natural History and Expansive Clinical Profile of Stress (Tako-Tsubo) Cardiomyopathy

Key Result

Stress cardiomyopathy was associated with higher all-cause mortality during follow-up compared to a matched general population (p = 0.016), with most deaths occurring in the first year.

Key Points

This research aims to comprehensively outline the clinical spectrum and outcomes of stress cardiomyopathy beyond the initial event.
Prospective assessment of clinical profiles and outcomes in 136 consecutive patients with stress cardiomyopathy.
Patient demographics included predominantly women, aged 32 to 94 years, with varying stress triggers.
Utilized cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging to classify ventricular contraction patterns.
Identified a diverse clinical profile with significant noncardiac mortality (p = 0.016) during follow-up.
Notable findings included 18% of patients on beta-blockers not being absolutely protected from stress cardiomyopathy events.
Five patients had right and/or left ventricular thrombi identified, with two associated embolic events.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=136)

Structured PICO

Population

136 consecutive patients with stress cardiomyopathy (SC), mean age 68 +/- 13 years, 96% women.

Comparator

Matched general population

Outcome

Clinical profile and outcomes including mortality, recurrence, and ventricular contraction patternshard clinical

Stress cardiomyopathy has a heterogeneous clinical spectrum and is associated with increased all-cause mortality compared to a matched general population.

Main Result

p-value: p=0.016

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to define more completely the clinical spectrum and consequences of stress cardiomyopathy (SC) beyond the acute event. BACKGROUND: Stress cardiomyopathy is a recently recognized condition characterized by transient cardiac dysfunction with ventricular ballooning. METHODS: Clinical profile and outcome were prospectively assessed in 136 consecutive SC patients. RESULTS: Patients were predominantly women (n = 130; 96%), but 6 were men (4%). Ages were 32 to 94 years (mean age 68 +/- 13 years); 13 (10%) were 2 months in 5%. Right and/or left ventricular thrombi were identified in 5 patients (predominantly by CMR imaging), including 2 with embolic events. Three patients (2%) died in-hospital and 116 (85%) have survived, including 5% with nonfatal recurrent SC events. All-cause mortality during follow-up exceeded a matched general population (p = 0.016) with most deaths occurring in the first year. CONCLUSIONS: In this large SC cohort, the clinical spectrum was heterogeneous with about one-third either male, <or=50 years of age, without a stress trigger, or with in-hospital death, nonfatal recurrence, embolic stroke, or delayed normalization of ejection fraction. Beta-blocking drugs were not absolutely protective and SC was a marker for increased noncardiac mortality. These data support expanded management and surveillance strategies including CMR imaging and consideration for anticoagulation.

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