Stress-induced cardiomyopathy in a primary reference hospital: prevalence and clinical presentation

Introduction: Stress-induced cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterised by a transient localised systolic ventricular dysfunction without epicardial coronary artery disease and is typically provoked by emotional or physical stress. It mainly affects women presenting a greater vulnerability of their hyperactive sympathetic system. Aims: To determine the prevalence, clinical and paraclinical characteristics, complications, in-hospital mortality and recurrence rate of the disease in a primary Swiss reference centre. Methods: Prospective data collection from 2003 to 2009 of hospitalised patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: transient ST segment modifications, reversible apical or mid-ventricular akinesia, absence of evidence of epicardial coronary artery disease and other causes of transient left ventricular dysfunction.