A large-scale U.S. study reveals that Takotsubo cardiomyopathy—also known as broken heart syndrome—continues to carry a high risk of death and severe complications, with no improvement in outcomes from 2016 to 2020. Often triggered by extreme emotional or physical stress, the condition mimics a heart attack and primarily affects older women, though men experience more than double the mortality rate. In-hospital deaths reached 6.5%, and complications such as heart failure, stroke, and cardiac arrest were common. The findings highlight the urgent need for improved diagnostics, early intervention, and targeted treatments for this often misunderstood condition.
