Introduction
Takotsubo Syndrome (TTS) is a relatively reversible heart condition characterized by left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, apical ballooning with abnormally elevated cardiac biomarkers and ECG changes in the absence of any obstructive coronary artery disease [1]. The precise cause of this cardiomyopathy is not known but possible explanations include catecholamine surge during stress, ischemia-mediated stunning of the myocardium due to microvascular spasm, and myocarditis [2, 3]. The TTS has been one of the well-known complications following subarachnoid hemorrhage, occurring due to increased catecholamine release following intracranial hemorrhage [4, 5]. The overall prognosis of TTS most of the time is favorable, however, certain clinical conditions carry higher risk and may have poorer outcomes [6]. Therefore, recognition and management of such clinical conditions that might predispose the patients to TTS is of utmost importance and should be an integral part of the management [3].
With the rising prevalence of TTS in various clinical conditions, multiple studies have reported TTS trends and outcomes in various neurological and non-neurological clinical conditions [7-10]. The acute cerebral events including acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are associated with catecholamine surge and hence, can lead to TTS. However, limited data exist on the prevalence and outcomes of TTS in AIS. This study aims at evaluating the US nationwide estimate of the burden and the differences in the outcomes of TTS and non-TTS in the inpatient AIS population.