What is ‘Broken Heart Syndrome’: Why men are dying more than women from it
etimes.in | May 16, 2025, 03.31 PM IST
A new large-scale study has uncovered a surprising and concerning trend: men are more than twice as likely to die from stress-induced heart failure—commonly known as "broken heart syndrome"—compared to women. And that’s despite the fact that women make up the majority of cases.
This condition, officially called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is typically triggered by intense emotional or physical stress, such as the loss of a loved one, a serious illness, or major surgery. It mimics a heart attack, causing chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations—but unlike a typical heart attack, it doesn’t involve blocked arteries.
What the study found
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, analyzed nearly 200,000 hospitalizations between 2016 and 2020. Here's what researchers found:
Overall in-hospital death rate: 6.5%
Women’s death rate: 5.5%Men’s death rate: 11.2%
Dr. Mohammad Reza Movahed, a cardiologist at the University of Arizona, called the high death rate among men "alarming" and emphasized the urgent need for better treatments and more research.
Major complications linked to the condition
The condition can lead to serious health issues if not treated quickly:
Heart failure – 35.9%
Irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) – 20.7%
Cardiogenic shock – 6.6%
Stroke – 5.3%
Cardiac arrest – 3.4%
Who’s most at risk?
Age matters: People over 61 were at the highest risk, but even adults between 46–60 were up to 3.25 times more likely to be affected than those under 45.
Race matters too: White adults had the highest rate (0.16%), followed by Native Americans (0.13%) and Black adults (0.07%).
Why are men dying more often from 'Broken Heart Syndrome'?
Even though 83% of the cases occurred in women, men had worse outcomes. Why? Experts point to a few key differences:
Men are more likely to face physical stressors (like surgery or illness), while women often face emotional ones (like grief or job loss). Emotional triggers, it turns out, are linked to better recovery outcomes.
Men may also lack social support, which is crucial for healing. Without that support, recovery can be slower and more dangerous.
No progress in 5 years
One of the most troubling findings? Mortality rates didn’t improve at all over the five-year study period—a clear sign that current treatments aren’t working well enough.
The study also hinted that factors like hospital resources, income levels, and insurance status may affect outcomes, though more research is needed.
Takeaway
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy may sound poetic, but it's anything but harmless. Especially for men, it can be deadly. These findings are a wake-up call for doctors and patients alike: emotional and physical stress can break more than just hearts—it can end lives.
This condition, officially called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is typically triggered by intense emotional or physical stress, such as the loss of a loved one, a serious illness, or major surgery. It mimics a heart attack, causing chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations—but unlike a typical heart attack, it doesn’t involve blocked arteries.
What the study found
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, analyzed nearly 200,000 hospitalizations between 2016 and 2020. Here's what researchers found:
Overall in-hospital death rate: 6.5%
Women’s death rate: 5.5%Men’s death rate: 11.2%
Dr. Mohammad Reza Movahed, a cardiologist at the University of Arizona, called the high death rate among men "alarming" and emphasized the urgent need for better treatments and more research.
Major complications linked to the condition
The condition can lead to serious health issues if not treated quickly:
Heart failure – 35.9%
Irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) – 20.7%
Cardiogenic shock – 6.6%
Stroke – 5.3%
Cardiac arrest – 3.4%
Who’s most at risk?
Age matters: People over 61 were at the highest risk, but even adults between 46–60 were up to 3.25 times more likely to be affected than those under 45.
Race matters too: White adults had the highest rate (0.16%), followed by Native Americans (0.13%) and Black adults (0.07%).
Why are men dying more often from 'Broken Heart Syndrome'?
Even though 83% of the cases occurred in women, men had worse outcomes. Why? Experts point to a few key differences:
Men are more likely to face physical stressors (like surgery or illness), while women often face emotional ones (like grief or job loss). Emotional triggers, it turns out, are linked to better recovery outcomes.
Men may also lack social support, which is crucial for healing. Without that support, recovery can be slower and more dangerous.
No progress in 5 years
One of the most troubling findings? Mortality rates didn’t improve at all over the five-year study period—a clear sign that current treatments aren’t working well enough.
The study also hinted that factors like hospital resources, income levels, and insurance status may affect outcomes, though more research is needed.
Takeaway
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy may sound poetic, but it's anything but harmless. Especially for men, it can be deadly. These findings are a wake-up call for doctors and patients alike: emotional and physical stress can break more than just hearts—it can end lives.
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