Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Definitive aetiology of unexplained syncope after cardiovascular autonomic tests in a tertiary syncope unit
Authors' conclusion
A cardiovascular autonomic test established the cause of syncope in 79% of patients evaluated in a syncope unit. Syncope without prodromes and cardiovascular comorbidities were significant predictors of failure to reveal an aetiology from assessment by CAT.
Study context
- Population
- Consecutive syncope patients evaluated with cardiovascular autonomic tests (CATs) incl. head-up tilt test in a tertiary syncope unit61% women, median age 52
- Participants
- 2,663 patients
- Exposure
- Unexplained vs explained syncope
- Outcome
- Predictors (history, clinical findings) of unexplained syncope after CAT
Methodological detailsconsecutive patients, tertiary syncope unit
- Consecutive patients
- Tertiary syncope unit
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- CAT explained aetiology
- 79%
- Unexplained after CAT
- 21%
- Older age at first syncope (per 10-year increment), higher odds of negative CAT
- +8%; P = 0.042
- Higher supine HR (per 10 b.p.m.)
- +12%; P = 0.003
- Absence of prodromes
- +48%; P < 0.001
- Hypertension
- +45%; P = 0.003
- Diabetes
- +82%; P < 0.001
- HF
- +98%; P = 0.014
- CAD
- +51%; P = 0.027
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Characteristics, negative CAT vs vasovagal syncope
- Negative CAT patients older, more often without prodromes, higher burden of CV comorbidities
Original publication
Definitive aetiology of unexplained syncope after cardiovascular autonomic tests in a tertiary syncope unit. Europace. Published 17 August 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →