Takotsubo Syndrome and COVID-19: Associations and Implications

• Published in: Current problems in cardiology Vol. 46; no. 3; p. 100763
• Main Authors: Shah, Rohan M., Shah, Morish, Shah, Sareena, Li, Angela, Jauhar, Sandeep
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2021; Mosby-Year Book
• Subjects: COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Global Health; Hospitalization - trends; Humans; Incidence; Pandemics; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy - epidemiology; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy - etiology
• ISSN: 0146-2806; 1535-6280
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2020.100763

Incidence of cardiovascular complications has increased during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, both population-wide and in patients diagnosed with the disease. This increase has presented complications in patient care, leading to increased hospitalizations, adverse outcomes, and medical costs. A condition of interest is takotsubo syndrome, which may be associated with the novel coronavirus. To understand this connection, a narrative review was performed by analyzing primary studies and case reports available. The findings showed increased incidence of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in both the general population and COVID-19 patients. Proposed mechanisms for the linkage include generalized increases in psychological distress, the cytokine storm, increased sympathetic responses in COVID-19 patients, and microvascular dysfunction. Moreover, natural disasters are noted as likely being associated with increases of takotsubo syndrome. As the pandemic continues, treating COVID-19 as a systemic condition is imperative, with the increase in takotsubo syndrome marking a significant impact of the novel coronavirus.