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Two-year morbidity and mortality in elderly patients with syncope.
Andrea Ungar1, Gianluigi Galizia, Alessandro Morrione
1Unit of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence, Italy. aungar@unifi.it
Age and Ageing
|September 13, 2011
Summary
Elderly syncope patients face significant mortality (17.2%) and recurrence (32.5%) risks. Increasing age and comorbidity predict mortality, while age and disability predict recurrence in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Geriatrics
- Cardiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Syncope is a frequent reason for hospitalization in elderly individuals.
- Morbidity and mortality associated with syncope in this demographic are not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term morbidity and mortality associated with syncope in elderly patients.
- To identify predictors of mortality and syncope recurrence in individuals over 65.
Main Methods:
- A 2-year, multicenter, longitudinal observational study involving 242 patients aged over 65 referred for syncope evaluation.
- Systematic recording and evaluation of mortality and syncope recurrence at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.
Main Results:
- At 24 months, overall mortality was 17.2% and syncope recurrence was 32.5%.
- Cardiac syncope was more prevalent in deceased patients (P=0.03).
- Mortality was predicted by age and comorbidity; recurrence by age and disability. Depression increased significantly over the follow-up period.
Conclusions:
- Mortality in elderly syncope patients is linked to age and comorbidity.
- Syncope recurrence is associated with increasing age and disability.
- Despite low unexplained syncope rates, recurrence was high, with cardiac syncope more frequent in non-survivors.
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