title: One-year follow-up of the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake stress cardiomyopathy cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A major earthquake struck Christchurch on 22 February 2011 causing extensive damage to the city and 185 direct fatalities. Within 4 days 21 postmenopausal women presented to Christchurch Hospital with stress cardiomyopathy. We were able to closely examine these patients in the immediate phase of presentation and at 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were prospectively identified. Clinical details at presentation were recorded including basic characteristics, symptoms, investigations, results, treatments and complications. At 12 months, telephone interviews were conducted. Patients answered a structured questionnaire to assess their cardiac and general health concerns. Consenting patients also received three psychometric questionnaires to assess psychological wellbeing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of patients had classic features of stress cardiomyopathy. Recovery was prompt with low complication rate. At 12 months, survival rate was 100%. Five patients had hospital readmissions early on--three of which were cardiac related. None had ongoing symptoms or stress cardiomyopathy recurrence. Seven patients had non-cardiac related medical problems. The psychometric questionnaires showed that none had a high level of health anxiety, general anxiety or depression. Four patients endorsed symptoms suggestive of borderline post-traumatic stress disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Christchurch Earthquake stress cardiomyopathy cohort has had good short-term and medium-term outcomes without significant cardiac or psychological sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Christchurch Hospital, Riccarton Avenue, Private Bag 4710, Christchurch, New Zealand. christinachannz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troughton
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zarifeh
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bridgman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D018450:Disease Progression; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D054549:Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology