What is 'broken heart syndrome'? Study says though prevelant among women, more men die from it

Time of India

15-05-2025

A new large-scale study has revealed that men are over twice as likely to die from stress-induced heart failure, commonly referred to as "broken heart syndrome," compared to women—despite the condition being significantly more prevalent among women. The condition, formally known as Takotsubo
cardiomyopathy
, is triggered by extreme emotional or physical stress, such as the death of a loved one or serious illness.
Although it mimics a heart attack with symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations, it typically does not involve blocked coronary arteries.
As per a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, in a comprehensive analysis of 199,890 adult hospitalizations between 2016 and 2020, researchers found that men had a notably higher mortality rate than women. The overall in-hospital death rate was 6.5%. While 5.5% of women diagnosed with the condition died, the death rate for men stood at 11.2%.
Dr. Mohammad Reza Movahed, an interventional cardiologist and professor at the University of Arizona's Sarver Heart Center, described the high fatality rate as "alarming." He stressed the need for enhanced treatment strategies and further investigation into the factors contributing to these disparities.
Key Complications and Risk Factors
The study documented several serious complications among patients with broken heart syndrome. Congestive heart failure occurred in 35.9% of cases, while 20.7% experienced atrial fibrillation. Cardiogenic shock affected 6.6%, stroke was noted in 5.3%, and 3.4% suffered cardiac arrest. These complications, if not addressed promptly, can severely impact patient outcomes.
Age also played a critical role in vulnerability. Individuals over the age of 61 were most at risk, although middle-aged adults between 46 and 60 years old were also found to be up to 3.25 times more likely to be affected than those aged 31 to 45.
Racial disparities were evident as well. White adults had the highest incidence rate at 0.16%, followed by Native Americans at 0.13%, and Black adults at 0.07%.
The Gender Divide: Stress Triggers and Social Support
Though women make up the majority of those diagnosed—accounting for around 83% of cases—researchers found that men fare worse when they do develop the condition. Experts suggest this may be due to differences in the nature of stress triggers. For men, physical stressors like surgery or illness are more common, whereas women more often experience emotional triggers such as grief or job loss.
Dr. Ilan Wittstein, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine, noted that emotional stressors, which are more common among women, tend to result in better outcomes. In contrast, the severe physical stressors that often precede the condition in men could lead to worse prognoses.
Movahed also pointed out that men may have lower levels of social support during recovery, potentially contributing to delayed healing and increased risk. He emphasized that unresolved stress might prolong damage to the heart, hindering recovery.
No Improvement Over Time
One of the most concerning findings of the study was the lack of improvement in mortality rates over the five-year period. This suggests that current treatment methods are insufficient and highlights the urgency of better clinical care and monitoring.
Socioeconomic factors such as hospital size, income levels, and insurance status also appeared to influence outcomes, although the study indicated more research is needed to understand their full impact.
The findings underscore the importance of recognizing and treating Takotsubo cardiomyopathy as a serious condition.