Climatic variables in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: roleof temperature

Background Recent studies documented a seasonal(summer) and circadian (morning) temporal distribution oftakotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC).Aim The aim of our study was to investigate whether thereis a relationship among season, temperature and theoccurrence of TTC. A second aim of our study was thecomparison of climatic variables in Takotsubocardiomyopathy versus acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods We enrolled consecutive patients with TTC inthree Italian centres and, for comparison consecutivepatients with AMI. The frequency of TTC and AMI patientsaccording to month, season and quartiles of temperature(I quartile: 9.8–15-, II quartile: 15–19-, III quartile: 19–25-and IV quartile: 25–38-C) was reported. Climatic variables ofTTC and AMI patients were compared.Results We included in the study 85 patients with TTC and900 patients with AMI. It was not observed a significant peakin the occurrence of TTC during summer time; however,when compared with AMI, TTC was more frequent insummer. We found an absolute higher frequency of TTCcases with warmer temperatures. TTC cases occurredduring warmer temperatures than AMI.Conclusion Our study does not confirm a summerpreference for TTC occurrence, as reported by previousstudies, even if, compared with AMI, TTC is more frequent insummer. During warmest days, it was recorded the highestincidence of TTC.