A new study has found that men are twice as likely as women to die from a stress-related heart condition commonly referred to as “broken heart syndrome.” Officially known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, the condition is typically triggered by extreme emotional or physical stress, like the loss of a loved one, and mimics the symptoms of a heart attack.
Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the study analyzed data from nearly 200,000 U.S. adults between 2016 and 2020. While women are more likely to be diagnosed with the condition, the mortality rate for men was 11.2%, compared to 5.5% for women.
The reason for this gender gap remains unclear, but researchers suggest it may be due to hormonal differences or the fact that men more often experience physical triggers, which may lead to more severe outcomes.
“This isn’t just an emotional metaphor—it’s a real, serious medical condition,” said study author Dr. Mohammad Reza Movahed, cardiologist and professor at the University of Arizona’s Sarver Heart Center.
During the study period, complications were common: 36% developed congestive heart failure, 21% experienced atrial fibrillation, and over 6% went into cardiogenic shock—a condition where the heart suddenly can’t pump enough blood.
Movahed emphasized the importance of early recognition and treatment to prevent severe complications and called the continued high death rate among men “alarming.”
He urged further research into treatment options and long-term management for stress-induced heart conditions.
