People suffering from broken heart syndrome are twice as likely to end up back in hospital compared to the general population.
New research has revealed that patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy are just as likely to be re-admitted as those who have suffered a heart attack.
The University of Aberdeen study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, shows the serious long-term effects of this often-misunderstood condition.
Around 5,000 people in the UK are affected each year by the syndrome.
It can be triggered by extreme emotional stress, like the death of a loved one, and was first described in the late 1990s.
Women are more likely to experience it, though men are not immune.
It causes symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath, making it difficult to distinguish from a heart attack.
Many patients recover from the initial event, but lasting symptoms often follow.
The data comes from the Scottish Takotsubo Registry, the only complete national database of its kind in the world.
Results showed that takotsubo patients were hospitalised again at a rate of 743 per 1,000 person-years.
That’s nearly double the rate of the general Scottish population, and almost identical to the rate for heart attack survivors.
Professor Dana Dawson, who led the study, said these patients are often overlooked once the initial crisis passes.
She warned that they remain vulnerable to complications like heart failure, irregular rhythms, and mental health issues.
She also noted that life expectancy for takotsubo patients is on par with those who have suffered a full-blown heart attack.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan from the British Heart Foundation stressed the need for early and thorough care.
She said that while patients may appear to recover well at first, the condition carries serious long-term risks.
She called for more targeted treatments and better follow-up to protect these patients from further decline.
Amelia Rudd, who helped analyse the data, confirmed that many patients continue to struggle with breathlessness and pain.
She said this new evidence proves the urgent need for improved support and research.
Experts now believe triggers for takotsubo cardiomyopathy go beyond emotional stress.
It can also be brought on by physical trauma or even minor upsets, and sometimes there is no clear trigger at all.
This latest study is expected to shift how the condition is viewed and managed by healthcare professionals.
It highlights the importance of recognising takotsubo as more than just a fleeting emotional episode.
As the research shows, the aftershocks of a broken heart can be every bit as dangerous as a classic heart attack.
