Epidemiology and predisposition of acute stress-induced (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy (Ms Amelia Rudd)

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterised by sudden onset left ventricular dysfunction precipitated by major stress.

This left ventricular dysfunction appears to recover rapidly, but we have demonstrated that mechanistically it is an inflammatory condition with persistent major abnormalities of cardiac function and energetics with a chronic heart failure phenotype.

Furthermore, we have recently established the Scottish Takotsubo Registry: a national cohort comprising of all consecutive cases in Scotland since 2010.

Using the electronic data linkage available in Scotland, we will use this rich resource to assess prior and subsequent morbidity and mortality of takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

This will be compared to two contemporaneous gender and age-matched cohorts of: 1) randomly selected individuals from the Scottish general population and 2) patients with myocardial infarction. This will be the first comprehensive national study of the epidemiology, management and prognosis of this condition.

This represents an ideal opportunity for the Fellow to be trained in cardiovascular research as well as provide much needed contemporary outcome data to inform future clinical research and trials in this neglected area of cardiology.