Takotsubo cardiomyopathy presents like a heart attack and is typically triggered by intense emotional or physical stress. Recovery of this condition varies and many patients continue to suffer from symptoms such as fatigue and breathlessness for a protracted period after their event. The purpose of this study is to establish whether following a structured exercise program or a mental wellbeing program compared to usual care for 12 weeks after an episode of Takotsubo will result in significant improvement in the brain activity, general and mental wellbeing of patients.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterised by sudden onset left ventricular dysfunction precipitated by major stress. This neuro-cardiac condition has a 5-year morbidity and mortality comparable with acute myocardial infarction and no current therapies exist. The psycho-somatic basis of Takotsubo suggests that its neuro-biology could be amenable to modulation. Here, the investigators propose a mechanistic three-arm pilot feasibility trial of standardised physical exercise training, cognitive behavioural therapy and current standard of care in patients who suffered a very recent episode of takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
85
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
Hippocampal volume change
Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Time frame: At ≤3 weeks of diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy and repeated at completion of 12 weeks intervention
Mental wellbeing testing
Eysenck personality questionnaires, Hospital Anxiety and Depression, Perceived Stress Scale and Work \& Social Adjustment
Time frame: At ≤3 weeks of diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy and repeated at completion of 12 weeks intervention
Mental wellbeing testing
Blood will be collected for PBMCs isolation and serum cytokine levels
Time frame: At ≤3 weeks of diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy and repeated at completion of 12 weeks intervention
Mental wellbeing test
Cortisol Awakening Response
Time frame: At ≤3 weeks of diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy and repeated at completion of 12 weeks intervention
Exercise Capacity
6 minute walk test and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test
Time frame: At ≤3 weeks of diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy and repeated at completion of 12 weeks intervention
Cardiac Imaging
Echocardiography
Time frame: At ≤3 weeks of diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy and repeated at completion of 12 weeks intervention
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