“Broken heart syndrome” can look just like a heart attack. This test can tell them apart
“Broken heart syndrome” can mimic a heart attack so closely that patients often need invasive testing to tell the difference. Researchers have now developed the BioTAK score, which combines biological sex with blood biomarkers to identify the condition before cardiac catheterization. In a validation study of nearly 1,800 patients, it correctly classified almost 90% of participants.
Takotsubo syndrome, a sudden heart condition primarily affecting postmenopausal women, can be triggered by intense emotional or physical stress. Often misdiagnosed as a heart attack due to similar early symptoms, this condition involves chest pain, abnormal electrocardiogram results and elevated cardiac enzymes. However, unlike a heart attack, Takotsubo syndrome does not involve blocked coronary arteries.
To distinguish between the two, researchers have developed the BioTAK score, a diagnostic tool that combines biological sex with blood biomarkers. By incorporating AI to determine the most useful biomarkers, the scoring system accurately identifies Takotsubo syndrome in nearly 90 percent of patients even before cardiac catheterization.
The two biomarkers in the BioTAK score suggest a key role for the brain-heart axis and reveal a biological pattern different from atherosclerosis. While the BioTAK score is not a replacement for cardiac catheterization, it could help guide diagnostic procedures more effectively and avoid unnecessary invasive tests in certain patients.
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