The aim of the present analysis was to evaluate the prognostic impact of different ballooning patterns in patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC). A total of 285 consecutive patients with TTC were included. Clinical characteristics and short- and long-term outcomes were compared between patients with typical apical ballooning (n = 204) and patients with an atypical ballooning pattern including midventricular and basal ballooning (n = 81). Patients with typical apical ballooning were significantly older (73.3 ± 10.2 vs 68.4 ± 10.3 years; p <0.01) and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (25.5% vs 12.3%; p = 0.02). The initial left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction was significantly lower in case of apical ballooning (41.5 ± 10.4% vs 46.9 ± 10.9%; p <0.01) but recovered to normal values in both groups (58.4 ± 8.0 vs 59.7 ± 7.0; p = 0.25). Although 28-day mortality did not differ significantly (p = 0.10), typical apical ballooning was associated with an increased 6-month (13.4% vs 1.3%; hazard ratio [HR] 10.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.47 to 79.66; p = 0.02) and long-term mortality rates (28.9% vs 14.5%; HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.17 to 4.71; p = 0.02). A landmark analysis which included only patients who survived the first 6 months after the initial event demonstrated similar mortality rates in patients with typical (17.9%) and atypical (13.3%) ballooning (HR 1.36, 95% CI 0.67 to 2.79; p = 0.40). In conclusion, in patients with TTC, typical apical ballooning is associated with more severe LV dysfunction at acute presentation and higher mortality rates within the first 6 months after the initial event. After complete recovery of LV function, prognosis is similar in patients with typical and atypical ballooning patterns.
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