More 'broken hearts' during pandemic
The spike in Takotsubo' syndrome is likely due to psychological and economic stress associated with COVID-19, researchers say
Cases of stress cardiomyopathy, also known as 'broken heart' or Takotsubo syndrome, jumped almost five-fold during the early months of the pandemic, a US study shows.
Researchers say the mental and economic stresses associated with the COVID-19, rather than the disease itself, are behind the spike in cases.
They examined the incidence of stress cardiomyopathy in 258 patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome at two Ohio hospitals in March and April.
And compared this with the rate seen in four pre-pandemic control groups with a combined 1656 patients.