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Men are twice as likely to die from "broken heart syndrome" than women, according to a recent study by the University of Arizona. Officially known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, this condition is triggered by extreme emotional or physical stress, leading to symptoms similar to a heart attack, such as shortness of breath and chest pain.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, analyzed data from nearly 200,000 U.S. patients hospitalized with the condition between 2016 and 2020. It found that the mortality rate for men with the syndrome was 11.2%, compared to 5.5% for women. Despite being more fatal for men, the condition affects more women, with about 83% of cases occurring in women.
The reasons for the higher mortality rate in men are not fully understood. Dr. Mohammad Movahed, a cardiologist at the University of Arizona’s Sarver Heart Center, suggested that men might be more vulnerable due to less frequent use of social and emotional support networks. Dr. Ilan Wittstein from Johns Hopkins Medicine added that men might face more severe triggers, which could lead to worse outcomes.
The study also highlighted that 6.6% of patients died from cardiogenic shock, 35.9% from congestive heart failure, 20.7% from atrial fibrillation, 5.3% from a stroke, and 3.4% from cardiac arrest.
This research underscores the importance of understanding and addressing the factors contributing to the increased risk among men. Further studies are needed to explore the hormonal and social factors influencing these outcomes.