Syncope in Puerto Rico
Figueroa, Y.; Altieri, P.I.; Banchs, H.éc.; Hernández, J.é; López, J.C.; Escobales, N.; Crespo, M.Ãa.J.
Boletin de la Asociacion Medica de Puerto Rico 99(3): 207-210
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-4849 PMID: 19610576 Document Number: 613225
Syncope is defined as a transient loss of consciousness with an inability to maintain postural tone that is followed by spontaneous recovery. Syncope is a prevalent disorder, accounting for 1-3% of emergency department visits and up to 6% of hospital admissions each year in the United States. The medical records of patients admitted at the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean after an episode of syncope were reviewed. The characteristics of this population and the etiologies of syncope were analyzed. One hundred and eighty six patients were identified with a primary diagnosis of syncope. A specific etiology was identified in 77.5% of the population studied whereas 22.6% had an unknown or unidentifiable cause. Cardiac syncope is associated with an increased mortality. Cardiac syncope was diagnosed in 60.8% of the evaluated patients. Although many etiologies for syncope exist, recent studies suggest categorization into cardiac, noncardiac, and unknown groupings for the purposes of future risk stratification.
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