One-year follow-up of the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake stress cardiomyopathy cases.

INTRODUCTION: 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.
CONCLUSION: The Christchurch Earthquake stress cardiomyopathy cohort has had good short-term and medium-term outcomes without significant cardiac or psychological sequelae.