New research has revealed a sobering truth about takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC)—commonly known as “broken heart syndrome.” While women make up the vast majority of diagnosed cases, men face more than double the risk of dying from this mysterious and stress-induced heart condition.
The study, published May 14 in the Journal of the American Heart Association, analyzed data from nearly 200,000 cases recorded between 2016 and 2020. Women accounted for 83% of those diagnosed, but men faced an 11.2% mortality rate, compared to just 5.5% among women.
A Deadly Emotional Shock
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a temporary but serious heart condition triggered by intense emotional or physical stress—such as the death of a loved one, car accidents, or major surgery. It weakens the heart’s left ventricle, mimicking the symptoms of a heart attack.
Common signs include:
- Sudden chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Cold sweats
- Palpitations
Despite being reversible in most cases—with recovery typically within two months—the study found that TC carries a high rate of in-hospital complications, including:
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- Congestive heart failure (36%)
- Atrial fibrillation (21%)
- Cardiogenic shock (7%)
- Stroke (5%)
The Gender Gap: Why Are Men Dying More?
Lead researcher Dr. Mohammad Reza Movahed expressed alarm over the consistently high death rates and lack of improvement over the five-year study. Despite TC being viewed largely as a “woman’s disease,” men seem to suffer more severe outcomes.
Experts like Dr. Abha Khandelwal of Stanford Medicine suggest that medical bias may play a role: just as women once suffered worse outcomes from heart attacks due to stereotypes labeling heart disease as a “man’s condition,” men with TC might be underdiagnosed or receive delayed treatment because the disease isn’t typically associated with them.
“This is like a reverse of that,” Khandelwal explained.
Still Much to Learn
Though takotsubo cardiomyopathy represents only 2–3% of acute coronary syndrome cases (rising to 5–6% among women), it is believed to be underdiagnosed, particularly in men and minority populations. The study found that 80% of patients were white, raising questions about disparities in recognition or access to care.
Despite its often dramatic onset, TC remains hard to predict and is not fully understood. The most accepted theory is that a flood of stress hormones (catecholamines) temporarily stuns the heart, though not all patients have a clear trigger.
“We still don’t know who will get it, what their risk is, or who will experience the most severe outcomes,” Khandelwal added.
Takeaway
This new study sheds light on the dangerous potential of takotsubo cardiomyopathy—especially for men. While often dismissed as a rare or emotional condition, the findings underscore the urgent need for better understanding, earlier diagnosis, and improved treatment strategies for all patients.
