Echocardiographic Correlates of Acute Heart Failure, Cardiogenic Shock, and In-Hospital Mortality in Tako-Tsubo Cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVES: To determine clinical and echocardiographic correlates of acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock and in-hospital mortality in a large cohort of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) patients. BACKGROUND: Despite good long-term prognosis, life-threatening complications due to hemodynamic instability can occur early in TTC patients. METHODS: The study population consisted of 227 patients (66.2 ± 12.2 years of age; females, 90.3%) enrolled in the Tako-tsubo Italian Network, undergoing transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography on admission and at short-term follow-up (4.3 [4 to 6] weeks). Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of major adverse events, a composite of acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Major adverse events occurred in 59 patients (25.9%). The variables for elderly patients ≥75 years of age (42.4 vs. 23.8%; p = 0.011): left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (35.1 ± 5.9 vs. 38.4 ± 4.6%, p < 0.001), wall motion score index (1.9 ± 0.2 vs. 1.7 ± 0.2, p < 0.001), E/e' ratio (13.5 ± 4.3 vs. 9.9 ± 3.3 [where E/e' is ratio of mitral E peak velocity and averaged e' velocity], p < 0.001), LV outflow tract obstruction (23.7 vs. 8.9%, p = 0.006), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (47.4 ± 12.3 vs. 38.0 ± 9.2 mm Hg; p < 0.001), right ventricular involvement (28.8 vs. 9.5%; p < 0.001), and reversible moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation (49.1 vs. 11.9%; p < 0.001), were significantly different between groups and were associated with adverse events. At multivariate analysis, LV ejection fraction (HR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.89 to 0.95; p < 0.001), E/e' ratio (HR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.24; p = 0.011), reversible moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (HR: 3.25; 95% CI: 1.16 to 9.10; p = 0.025), and age ≥75 years (HR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.05 to 7.52; p = 0.039) were independent correlates of major adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiographic parameters provide additional information compared to other variables routinely used in clinical practice to identify patients at higher risk of hemodynamic deterioration and poor in-hospital outcome, allowing prompt institution of appropriate pharmacological treatment and adequate mechanical support.