Value of history taking in children and adolescents with cardiac syncope

This study was designed to investigate the value of history taking in identifying children with cardiac syncope, and to improve diagnostic efficiency and accuracy in children with cardiac syncope.

We compared the characteristics of a group of children and adolescents with cardiac syncope at the Pediatric Syncope Unit of five hospitals in China with those with typical vasovagal syncope. We included a cohort of 275 patients in Pediatric Syncope Unit. A cardiac cause of syncope was established in 31 patients, autonomic-mediated reflex syncope in 214, non-syncopal attacks in 15, and in the remaining 15 the cause of syncope remained unexplained. Cardiac syncope was triggered by exercise, whereas vasovagal syncope by prolonged standing, warm-crowded place, and fear or pain emotion. Syncopal spells occurred at various positions in cardiac syncope. Children who had prodromal symptoms with cardiac syncope were significantly fewer than those with vasovagal syncope. Most children with cardiac syncope had history of abnormal electrocardiogram findings when compared with children suffering from vasovagal syncope. On multivariable analysis, history of abnormal electrocardiogram findings and exercise-triggered syncope were independent predictors of cardiac syncope.

Children and adolescents with a history of abnormal electrocardiogram findings and exercise-related syncope spells were at high risk for cardiac syncope.