Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022.
World J Crit Care Med. May 9, 2022; 11(3): 149-159
Published online May 9, 2022. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v11.i3.149
Table 1 Patient baseline characteristics and presentation by unit

Overall, n = 109
MSICU, (n = 49)
CCU, (n = 60)
P value1
Age (yr), mean (SD)67.2 (14.2)64.9 (14.4)69 (13.7)0.13
Female gender – n (%)78 (71.6)30 (61.2)48 (80.0)0.04
Race/Ethnicity – n (%)0.37
White30 (27.5)17 (34.7)13 (21.7)
Black 20 (18.4)9 (18.4)11 (18.3)
Hispanic42 (38.5)15 (30.6)27 (45.0)
Other17 (15.6)8 (16.3)9 (15.0)
Comorbidities – n (%)
Diabetes mellitus40 (36.7)19 (38.8)21 (35)0.68
Hypertension65 (59.6)23 (46.9)42 (70)0.01
Coronary disease13 (11.9)5 (10.2)8 (13.3)0.77
Heart failure7 (6.4)4 (8.2)3 (5)0.70
Arrhythmia14 (12.8)4 (8.2)10 (16.7)0.25
Asthma16 (14.7)6 (12.2)10 (16.7)0.52
COPD13 (11.9)6 (12.2)7 (11.7)0.93
Obesity10 (9.2)3 (6.1)7 (11.7)0.51
CKD14 (12.8)8 (16.3)6 (10)0.33
ESRD3 (2.8)1 (2)2 (3.3)1.00
Cancer23 (21.1)10 (20.4)13 (21.7)1.00
Cirrhosis6 (5.5)5 (10.2)1 (1.7)0.09
HIV2 (1.8)1 (2)1 (1.7)1.00
Social risk factors – n (%)
Alcohol use 25 (22.9)13 (26.5)12 (20)0.42
Current smoker15 (13.8)4 (8.2)11 (18.3)0.17
Former smoker36 (33)21 (42.9)15 (25)0.05
Presenting symptoms- n (%)
Chest pain35 (32.1)8 (16.3)27 (45)0.001
SOB55 (50.5)23 (46.9)32 (53.3)0.51
Shock41 (37.6)29 (59.2)12 (20)< 0.001
Reason for unit admission- n (%)
Cardiac44 (40.3)0 (0.0)44 (73.3)< 0.001
Respiratory14 (12.8)9 (18.4)5 (8.3)0.54
Sepsis24 (22.0)19 (38.8)5 (8.3)< 0.001
GI11 (10.0)9 (18.4)2 (3.3)0.14
Neurological7 (6.4)6 (12.2)1 (1.7)0.04
Metabolic4 (3.7)3 (6.1)1 (1.7)0.32
Other5 (4.6)3 (6.1)2 (3.3)0.66
Table 2 Stress cardiomyopathy diagnosis, complications and outcomes by unit

Overall, n = 109
MSICU, (n = 49)
CCU, (n = 60)
P value1
Confirmed SC62 (56.9)12 (24.5)50 (83.3)< 0.0001
Clinical SC47 (43.1)37 (75.5)10 (16.7)
Hospital day of diagnosis1; median [IQR]2 [1-3]3 [2-4]1 [1-2]0.0002
Diagnostic Studies – n (%)
Cardiac catherization62 (56.9)12 (24.5)50 (83.3)< 0.001
Transthoracic echo109 (100)49 (100)60 (100)
Lowest ejection fraction – (%); median [IQR]35 [28-40]30 [30-40]35 [30-45]0.38
TTE anatomical variant- n (%)
Atypical22 (20.2)12 (24.5)10 (16.7)0.31
Typical87 (79.8)37 (75.5)50 (83.3)
Type of SC- n (%)< 0.001
Primary 43 (39.4)0 (0.0)43 (71.6)
Secondary66 (60.5)49 (100.0)17 (28.3)
EKG Findings- n (%)
Normal EKG21 (19.2)14 (28.6)7 (11.7)0.03
ST-Segment elevation54 (49.5)15 (30.6)39 (65.0)< 0.001
ST-Segment depression4 (3.7)2 (4.08)2 (3.3)1.00
T-Wave inversion23 (21.1)13 (26.5)10 (16.7)0.24
Other25 (22.9)14 (28.6)11 (18.3)0.25
Complications – n (%)
ECMO/IABP use3 (2.8)1 (2.0)2 (3.3)1.00
Inotrope use10 (9.2)7 (14.3)3 (5)0.11
New arrythmia14 (12.8)5 (10.2)9 (15.0)0.57
AKI37 (33.9)21 (42.9)16 (26.7)0.08
RRT14 (12.8)4 (8.2)2 (3.3)0.41
Acute respiratory failure – n (%)
Mechanical ventilation44 (40.4)29 (59.2)15 (25.0)< 0.001
NIPPV only15 (13.8)8 (16.3)7 (11.7)0.48
Shock – n (%)41 (37.6)29 (59.2)12 (20.0)< 0.001
Cardiogenic shock14 (12.8)5 (10.2)9 (15.0)0.46
Septic shock28 (25.7)23 (46.9)5 (8.3)< 0.001
Other shock2 (1.8)2 (4.1)0 (0.0)0.11
Follow-up echocardiogram- n (%)
Repeat echo (% Total)69 (63.3)30 (61.2)39 (65.0)0.69
Reversibility (% Echo)69 (100.0)30/30 (100.0)39/39 (100.0)1.00
Clinical SC patients
Repeat Echo (% Total)27/47 (57.4)21/47 (44.7)6/47 (12.8)0.01
Reversibility (% Echo)27/27 (100.0)21/21 (100.0)6/6 (100.0)1.00
Hospital outcomes – n (%)
In-hospital mortality15 (13.8)9 (18.4)6 (10)0.27
ICU mortality8 (7.3)3 (6.1)5 (8.3)0.73
Table 3 Peak laboratory values by unit

MSICU (n = 49)
CCU (n = 60)
P value1
Troponin-T (ng/mL)0.42 [0.23-1.2]0.87 [0.29-1.54]0.11
CPK (U/L)427 [148.5-1348.5]276.5 [161-695]0.48
Pro-BNP (pg/mL)5395 [1458-15000]3363.5 [944.5-15369]0.72
Table 4 Peak laboratory values and outcomes of stress cardiomyopathy by anatomical variant

Typical (n = 87)
Atypical (n = 22)
P value1
Lab findings- median (IQR)
Troponin-T (ng/mL)0.65 [0.23–1.57]0.58 [0.25-0.94]0.61
CPK (U/L)297.5 [151-919]278 [168-631]0.94
Pro-BNP (pg/mL)3722 [874-11932]5599 [1608.5-17373.0]0.29
Hospital complications- n (%)
Inotrope use8 (9.2)2 (9.1)1
ECMO/IABP use2 (2.3)1 (4.5)0.5
RRT3 (3.4)3 (13.6)0.1
Hospital outcomes- n (%)
In-hospital mortality12 (13.8)3 (13.6)1
ICU mortality7 (8)1 (4.5)1