Stress-induced Cardiomyopathy: A 5-year Retrospective Study on Presentation and Prognosis

Introduction: Stress cardiomyopathy (SC) is a disorder that results in severe, quickly reversible heart malfunction that is brought on by extreme mental or physical stress.In the Indian context, it is unclear how SC develops naturally, how it is managed, and how it turns out.Investigating the clinical traits, therapeutic approach, and outcomes of patients with SC was the aim of this study.Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with SC and admitted to a private hospital from February 2016 to January 2021.The study included all hospitalized patients with a confirmed diagnosis, regardless of age, gender, or comorbidities.Patients who were not hospitalized or lacked a confirmed diagnosis were excluded.Results: Data from 59 patients were analyzed.The youngest and oldest patients diagnosed were 21 and 88 years old, respectively.Breathlessness (64.4%) and fever (52.5%) were the most frequently reported symptoms.Hypoxia (78.0%) and pallor (67.8%) were common clinical signs.All patients underwent two-dimensional echocardiography for diagnostic assessment.Additional investigations such as chest radiographs, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound were conducted as needed.Mechanical ventilation was required in 20 patients.The mean hospital stay was 9 days.Among the admitted patients, 81.4% recovered, while 18.6% succumbed to the condition. Conclusion:This study underscores the importance of early echocardiographic assessment in SC cases.Supportive management is critical, with particular attention to monitoring sepsis and respiratory failure.Patients with severely reduced ejection fraction face a higher risk of adverse outcomes.