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Vasovagal syncope triggered by recent moderate weight loss?
Brent Cumming1, Christopher Frampton2, David Jardine3
1Department of General Medicine, Christchurch Hospital, Riccarton Rd, Christchurch 8410 New Zealand.
The New Zealand Medical Journal
|July 14, 2022
Summary
Moderate weight loss may trigger unexplained vasovagal syncope (VVS) in adults. This study found VVS onset often coincides with weight loss, leading to earlier clinical presentation, though mechanisms remain unclear.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Vasovagal syncope (VVS) onset in adults is frequently unexplained.
- Understanding triggers for VVS is crucial for patient management and diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether moderate weight loss is a potential trigger for the onset of vasovagal syncope (VVS).
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case-control study compared patients with recent weight loss, weight-stable patients, and controls.
- Data collected included demographics, syncope symptoms, and tilt-table test results.
Main Results:
- 11.9% of VVS patients reported moderate weight loss (mean 11.5 kg).
- Weight loss preceded or coincided with syncope onset in 80% of cases.
- Despite lower blood pressure, stroke volume was preserved in weight loss and weight-stable syncope groups compared to controls during tilt-table tests.
Conclusions:
- Moderate weight loss may precipitate vasovagal syncope (VVS) in some adults.
- Weight loss-associated VVS can lead to earlier presentation to clinics.
- The precise physiological mechanisms linking weight loss to VVS require further investigation.
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