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Syncope in patients with structural heart disease

David O Arnar1

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Landspítali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. davidar@landspitali.is

Journal of Internal Medicine
|March 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Syncope, a common fainting condition, can stem from benign causes or serious heart issues. Identifying structural heart disease is crucial as it predicts poor outcomes and sudden cardiac death risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Syncope is a frequent clinical presentation with diverse etiologies.
  • While often benign, syncope can indicate serious underlying conditions, including cardiac disorders.
  • Structural heart disease in syncope patients is linked to adverse prognosis and sudden cardiac death.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the significance of cardiac evaluation in syncope patients.
  • To emphasize the association between structural heart disease and poor outcomes in syncope.
  • To guide clinicians in considering cardiac causes during syncope assessment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical presentations of syncope.
  • Correlation of syncope with cardiac structural abnormalities.
  • Assessment of prognostic implications of cardiac disease in syncope.

Main Results:

  • Structural heart disease is a critical factor in syncope prognosis.
  • The presence of structural heart disease predicts increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
  • Clinical history, physical exam, and ECG findings guide cardiac evaluation.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiac evaluation is essential for syncope patients, especially those with suspected structural heart disease.
  • Early identification of cardiac disorders can mitigate risks associated with syncope.
  • Comprehensive assessment including ECG is vital for managing syncope effectively.

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