Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: Two hundred fifty nine patients older than 65 years consecutively admitted to the emergency department because of loss of consciousness in a period of a month were submitted to a standardized protocol approved by the European Task Force for the diagnosis of syncope; all the patients were studied by a trained physician who interacted with a central supervisor as the management of syncope was concerned, using a decision-making software. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: In patients older than 65 years, Parkinson's disease and neurological comorbidity are strictly related to OH syncope. Moreover, this study suggests the independent link between OH syncope and the use of vasoactive drugs, identifying the majority of cases as adverse drug reaction, a preventable risk factor for syncope and falls in the older population.
|
Authors | Chiara Mussi, Andrea Ungar, Gianfranco Salvioli, Carlo Menozzi, Angelo Bartoletti, Franco Giada, Alfonso Lagi, Irene Ponassi, Giuseppe Re, Raffaello Furlan, Roberto Maggi, Michele Brignole, Evaluation of Guidelines in Syncope Study 2 Group |
Journal | The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
(J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci)
Vol. 64
Issue 7
Pg. 801-6
(Jul 2009)
ISSN: 1758-535X [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 19349588
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
|
Chemical References |
- Diuretics
- Nitrates
- Digoxin
|
Topics |
- Accidental Falls
(statistics & numerical data)
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Digoxin
(adverse effects)
- Diuretics
(adverse effects)
- Electrocardiography
- Emergency Service, Hospital
- Female
- Humans
- Hypotension, Orthostatic
(complications, diagnosis, epidemiology)
- Italy
(epidemiology)
- Male
- Nitrates
(adverse effects)
- Parkinson Disease
(complications)
- Practice Guidelines as Topic
- Prevalence
- Prospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Syncope, Vasovagal
(complications, diagnosis, epidemiology, etiology)
|