Patient characteristics in variable left ventricular recovery from Takotsubo syndrome

Abstract Background Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a heart failure syndrome which is usually reversible. Factors associated with degree of recovery of left ventricular systolic function in TTS are poorly understood. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 90 TTS patients treated at our institution from 2006 to 2014. Patients were grouped based on recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on follow-up transthoracic echocardiogram as left ventricular ejection fraction Results In comparison to full recovery group patients ( n  = 63), partial recovery patients ( n  = 27) were older (76.9 ± 13 vs. 70.6 ± 13 years; P  = 0.02) and had a higher prevalence of comorbid hypothyroidism (26% vs. 8%; P  = 0.02). A greater number of patients from the partial group were also taking levothyroxine replacement (22% vs. 3%; P  = 0.003). We found no significant between-group differences in type of triggering event or cardiac biomarker levels. QT interval was longer in the partial group (540.6 ± 71 msec vs. 460.7 ± 35 msec; P  = 0.01). Follow-up LVEF was 37.9 ± 8% in the partial group and 58.0 ± 4% in the full group ( P Conclusion Takotsubo patients with partial myocardial recovery were older, presented with longer QT intervals, and were more likely to have comorbid hypothyroidism.