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Causes and outcome of syncope.
M Schillinger1, M Müllner, G Meron
1Notfallaufnahme Universitätskliniken Allgemeines Krankenhaus Wien, Vienna, Austria. mschillinger@hotmail.com
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift
|August 13, 1999
Summary
Syncope patients represent a small fraction of emergency department visits. Key predictors of poor outcomes include age over 60, neurogenic causes, and abnormal ECG findings, with an overall mortality rate of 8%.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Cardiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Limited data exists on emergency department syncope presentation frequency.
- Existing literature on syncope mortality and outcome predictors is inconclusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine the frequency of syncope presentations to the emergency department.
- Assess mortality rates in emergency department syncope patients.
- Identify predictors of poor outcomes in syncope patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of consecutive syncope patients (1994-1997).
- Classification of syncope causes into six categories.
- Follow-up of patients until December 1997.
Main Results:
- Syncope accounted for 0.35% of emergency department visits (701 patients).
- 8% of eligible patients (507) died during follow-up.
- Independent predictors of mortality included age > 60, neurogenic syncope, and abnormal ECG.
Conclusions:
- Syncope is infrequent in emergency departments, with an 8% mortality rate.
- Clinical history and ECG are crucial for risk stratification.
- Age > 60, neurogenic causes, and abnormal ECG predict poor outcomes.