Outcomes of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in hospitalized cancer patients

Background: Chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy is a critical complication of treatment for cancer. The emotional stress of a cancer diagnosis, ongoing chemotherapy, abnormal cancer-related wasting syndrome may contribute to cardiac morbidity in these patients. The burden of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TCM) in cancer patients is unknown. The incidence of TCM and related outcomes in cancer patients was investigated in this study. Methods: The 2007–2013 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was analyzed for patients with a prior and new diagnosis of TCM with and without malignancy. Risk factors for mortality were adjusted for associated conditions by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: From 2007 to 2013, an estimated 122,855 adults were admitted with a diagnosis of TCM. In 2013, the incidence of admissions in US of patients with coexisting TCM and malignancy was 1.13%. Patients admitted for TCM with coexisting malignancy had a significantly higher mortality (13.8 vs. 2.9%, p < 0.0001), length of stay (7 vs. 4 days, p < 0.0001) and total charges ($29,291 vs. $36,231, p < 0.0001), compared to those with no malignancy. In patients with a primary diagnosis of TCM and without any underlying malignancy, males had a higher mortality (4.02 vs. 1.03%, p < 0.0001), whereas there was no gender difference in mortality in those with coexisting malignancy (6.25 vs. 6.45%, p = 0.965). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, risk factors associated with mortality were solid cancer (OR 3.43, p = 0.008), stroke (OR 18.33, p < 0.0001) and heart failure (OR 1.918, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Outcomes are significantly worse in patients with TCM and malignancy. Hence, this patient population must be regarded as high-risk and early diagnostic consideration for TCM is warranted. Early intervention may help lower mortality, decrease resource utilization and reduce the health care costs in these patients.