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The normal response to prolonged passive head up tilt testing
M E Petersen1, T R Williams, C Gordon
1Department of Cardiology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK. drmev.peterson@virgin.net
Heart (British Cardiac Society)
|October 20, 2000
Summary
False positive results are common in head up tilt testing for healthy adults. This challenges current diagnostic criteria for abnormal non-syncopal outcomes, impacting syncope diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Physiology
Background:
- Head up tilt testing is a common diagnostic tool.
- Understanding normal responses is crucial for accurate syncope diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define normal head up tilt test responses in healthy adults.
- To assess the frequency of vasovagal syncope in a normal population.
Main Methods:
- 127 healthy adults underwent 60-degree head up tilt testing.
- Continuous, non-invasive beat-to-beat blood pressure and heart rate monitoring were used.
Main Results:
- 13% of subjects experienced vasovagal syncope.
- Age and sex did not influence outcomes.
- Normal subjects showed age-related heart rate and blood pressure variations.
Conclusions:
- Head up tilt testing frequently yields false positive results in healthy individuals.
- Established criteria for abnormal non-syncopal outcomes may be invalidated by normal physiological responses.