@article{ref1,
title="Prevalence and correlates of syncope-related traumatic injuries in tilt-induced vasovagal syncope",
journal="Italian heart journal",
year="2001",
author="Ammirati, F. and Colivicchi, F. and Velardi, A. and Santini, M.",
volume="2",
number="1",
pages="38-41",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Vasovagal syncope represents the most common form of syncope in the general population and is usually considered as a benign affection. However, syncope-related traumatic injuries may represent a major complication of such a condition in a relevant percentage of cases. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical correlates of syncope-related trauma in a cohort of consecutive patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope. METHODS: Three hundred and forty-six consecutive patients were studied in whom a diagnosis of vasovagal syncope was established. All subjects were interviewed with a standard questionnaire in order to collect all possible information about their clinical history and the occurrence of trauma during syncopal spells. RESULTS: Ninety-four of the 346 patients (27.2%) reported at least one syncope-related traumatic injury. In 31/346 cases (8.9%) the severity of trauma had determined hospital admission and surgical treatment. When compared to the rest of the study population, patients with syncope-related trauma showed a higher prevalence of male gender (p < 0.01), a higher absolute number (p < 0.01) and frequency (p < 0.01) of syncopal episodes in their history. Patients with trauma also reported a shorter duration of warning symptoms preceding syncope (p < 0.01), while showing a higher prevalence of positive cardioinhibitory response to tilt table testing (p < 0.01). Moreover, the number of syncope-related injuries was found to correlate significantly with the number of syncopal spells (r = 0.64, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Most practicing physicians consider vasovagal syncope as simply a benign affection in young people. However, such a clinical view should be partially revised, as recurrent vasovagal syncope is associated with significant trauma-related morbidity.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1129-471X",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}