Men face double the risk of death from ‘broken heart syndrome,’ landmark study finds

A new study has upended long-held assumptions about “broken heart syndrome,” revealing that while women account for the vast majority of cases, men are more than twice as likely to die from this stress-induced heart condition. The research, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, analyzed nearly 200,000 U.S. hospital admissions for takotsubo cardiomyopathy between 2016 and 2020, providing the most comprehensive look yet at gender disparities in outcomes.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy—commonly called broken heart syndrome—is triggered by extreme emotional or physical stress, such as the loss of a loved one or a serious illness. It mimics the symptoms of a heart attack, including chest pain and shortness of breath, but is typically reversible with proper care.

The study found that women made up 83% of cases, yet the mortality rate for men was a striking 11.2%, compared to just 5.5% for women. The overall death rate stood at 6.5%, with no significant improvement over the five-year period. Complications such as heart failure, stroke, and arrhythmias were also common, particularly among older adults and those with preexisting heart conditions.

Experts are still investigating why men fare so much worse. Dr. Mohammad Reza Movahed, a study coauthor, suggests hormonal differences and the possibility that men produce higher levels of stress hormones (catecholamines) during traumatic events, which may cause more severe heart damage. Other factors could include underdiagnosis in men—since the condition is often seen as a “women’s disease”—and the fact that men are more likely to develop the syndrome after physical stressors like infections or surgery, which are linked to poorer outcomes.

The findings highlight the need for greater awareness, timely diagnosis, and tailored treatment strategies for men suffering from this often-overlooked condition. As Dr. Movahed notes, “The continued high death rate is alarming, suggesting that more research be done for better treatment and finding new therapeutic approaches to this condition.”