Deadly lovesickness - stroke through a broken heart

Increased stroke risk in Broken Heart syndrome

Tragic events such as the loss of a close family member may result in the so-called Broken Heart Syndrome, which in turn leads to an increased risk of various symptoms. According to a study by scientists of University Medicine Mannheim, this also includes an increased risk of stroke.

The probability of suffering a stroke within five years is significantly higher in stress cardiomyopathy or Broken Heart syndrome than after a heart attack, the researchers at the University of Mannheim reported at the annual conference of the German Cardiac Society and Cardiovascular Research eV (DGK) of their study results. The study was carried out on patients of the University Medical Center Mannheim, German Center for Cardiovascular Research, which were followed up over a period of five years.

Broken Heart syndrome has been linked to a significantly increased risk of stroke in a recent study. (Image: Di Studio / fotolia.com)

What is Broken Heart Syndrome??

Broken heart syndrome is also known as stress cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo syndrome and describes an "acute, transient dysfunction of the heart," according to the DGK statement. This occurs in most sufferers as a result of heavy emotional stress, but the exact causes remain unclear. Women are more frequently affected than men, and the syndrome can also occur repeatedly.

Similar mortality as in acute myocardial infarction

Although stress cardiomyopathy is associated with various complications such as thromboembolism, cardiogenic shock or arrhythmia and increased mortality, "the prognosis of Takotsubo's syndrome used to be favorable," Dr. Ibrahim El-Battrawy from the University Medical Center Mannheim at the DGK Annual Meeting. However, recent studies have shown that sufferers have the same mortality as patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Significantly increased risk of stroke

The study also showed that "the long-term incidence of strokes after five years was significantly higher in patients with Takotsubo's syndrome at 6.5 percent than in patients with heart attacks at 3.2 percent," says Dr , Ibrahim El-Battrawy. Interestingly, more patients in the group with stress myocardiopathy than in the heart attack group would have suffered from carcinoma. El-Battrawy continues. Here possible associations are now to be clarified in further studies.

What are the effects of other diseases??

According to the researchers, no other association with Broken Heart Syndrome was found in other verified diseases. "A comparison of the comorbidities and the comorbidities such as atrial fibrillation, lung disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity and hypertension showed no relevant difference," said the DGK release on the presentation at the annual meeting in Mannheim. The conference runs until Saturday and a total of more than 8,500 active participants are expected. (Fp)