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INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical predictors of vasodepressor (VD) response during head-up tilt test (HUTT) in patients with history of syncope admitted to a tertiary referral syncope unit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated all consecutive patients who underwent HUTT for suspected or established reflex syncope at our institution from March 1st, 2017, to June 1st, 2023. VD response was defined when syncope occurred during hypotension along with no or slight (< 10% bpm) decrease of heart rate. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to test the association of VD response to HUTT with a set of clinical covariates. RESULTS: 1780 patients (40 ± 19.9 years; 49.3% male) were included; among them, 1132 (63 %) showed a positive response to HUTT and 124 (7.0%) had a VD response. The prevalence of VD response showed a peak after 69 years (11.52% vs 6.18%; P = 0.0016), mainly driven by male patients (13.7% vs 4.9%; P < 0.0001). At multivariate analysis, age (OR: 1.15; P = 0.0026) was independently associated to HUTT-induced VD syncope; in contrast, smoking (OR: 0.33: P = 0.0009) and non-classical presentation of syncope (OR: 0.55; P = 0.0029) inversely correlated with VD syncope. CONCLUSIONS: VD response represents the less frequent responses among those induced by HUTT, accounting up to 7% of overall responses. A gender and age-related distribution has been shown. Advanced age was the only independent predictor of VD syncope; conversely, smoking and non-classical presentation of syncope reduced the probability of VD response to HUTT.
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Background: Neurally mediated reflex syncope (NMRS) has been recently described as a possible trigger of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). There are few data in the literature about this association. Methods: In the present meta-summary, 6 case reports describing patients who experienced TTS following an NMRS episode were included. Patient characteristics, triggers and type of syncope were collected. Results: A total of 7 patients with a median age of 63.4 years (interquartile range, IQR: 47.5-76) were evaluated; 71.4% were females, mainly in the menopausal state (80%). The TTS triggers were: vasovagal syncope in 6 patients (85.7%) and situational syncope in 1 patient (14.3%). 2 patients underwent a comprehensive clinical evaluation which showed a cardioinhibitory response. Conclusions: NMRS due to sudden orthostatism and emotional stress, mainly with a cardioinhibitory response, has been associated with the onset of TTS, in particular among female patients in a menopausal state.
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OBJECTIVE: The study evaluated the positivity rate, hemodynamic responses, and prognosis in terms of syncopal recurrence among patients with situational syncope (SS) stratified according to the underlying situational triggers. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated all consecutive patients with SS who underwent nitroglycerin (NTG)-potentiated HUTT at Syncope Unit of the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" - Monaldi Hospital from March 1st, 2017, to May 1st, 2023. All patients were followed for at least one year. The study population was divided according to the underlying triggers (micturition, swallow, defecation, cough/sneeze, post-exercise). RESULTS: 236 SS patients (mean age 50± 19.3 years; male 63.1%) were enrolled; among them, the situational trigger was micturition in 109 patients (46.2%); swallow in 32 (13.6%) patients; defecation in 35 (14.8%) patients; post-exercise in 41 (17.4%) patients and cough/sneeze in 17 (7.2%) patients. There were no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics and HUTT responses between different situational triggers. The Kaplan-Meier analysis did not show a statistically different rate of syncope recurrence across patients stratified by baseline situational triggers (log-rank p=0.21). CONCLUSIONS: SS appears to be a homogenous syndrome and different triggers do not impact the HUTT response or syncope recurrence at 1 year.
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BACKGROUND: We aimed to identify the target of deprescribing, i.e. the 24-hour SBP increase needed to achieve the greatest reduction of SBP drops. METHOD: Forty hypertensive patients (mean age 73.6 ± 9.3 years, 26 females) with reflex syncope and SBP drops on a screening ABPM were advised to withdraw or to reduce their therapy. The study objective was the reduction of SBP drops <90 mmHg and <100 mmHg on a second ABPM performed within 3 months. RESULTS: Out of a total of 98 drugs taken during ABPM 1, 44 were withdrawn, 16 had a dose reduction and 38 remained unchanged at the time of ABPM 2. 24-hour SBP increased from 119.7 ± 10.1 mmHg to 129.4 ± 13.2 mmHg during ABPM2. Total disappearance of daytime SBP drops <100 mmHg was achieved in 20 (50 %) patients who had 24-hour SBP of 134±13 mmHg and an increase from ABPM 1 of 12 (IQR 5-20) mmHg. Compared with the 20 patients who had persistence of drops, these patients had a greater reduction of the number of hypotensive drugs (67 % versus 19 %, p = 0.002) and a greater rate of withdrawals (62 % versus 29 %, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: In hypertensive patients with reflex syncope, an increase of 12 mmHg and an absolute value of 24-hour SBP of 134 mmHg appear to represent the optimal goals aimed to prevent SBP drops. Drugs withdrawal, rather than simply dose reduction, is mostly required to achieve the above target.
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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Available data on continuous rhythm monitoring by implantable loop recorders (ILRs) in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) are scarce. The aim of this multi-centre study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield and clinical implication of a continuous rhythm monitoring strategy by ILRs in a large cohort of BrS patients and to assess the precise arrhythmic cause of syncopal episodes. METHODS: A total of 370 patients with BrS and ILRs (mean age 43.5 ± 15.9, 33.8% female, 74.1% symptomatic) from 18 international centers were included. Patients were followed with continuous rhythm monitoring for a median follow-up of 3 years. RESULTS: During follow-up, an arrhythmic event was recorded in 30.7% of symptomatic patients [18.6% atrial arrhythmias (AAs), 10.2% bradyarrhythmias (BAs), and 7.3% ventricular arrhythmias (VAs)]. In patients with recurrent syncope, the aetiology was arrhythmic in 22.4% (59.3% BAs, 25.0% VAs, and 15.6% AAs). The ILR led to drug therapy initiation in 11.4%, ablation procedure in 10.9%, implantation of a pacemaker in 2.5%, and a cardioverter-defibrillator in 8%. At multivariate analysis, the presence of symptoms [hazard ratio (HR) 2.5, P = .001] and age >50 years (HR 1.7, P = .016) were independent predictors of arrhythmic events, while inducibility of ventricular fibrillation at the electrophysiological study (HR 9.0, P < .001) was a predictor of VAs. CONCLUSIONS: ILR detects arrhythmic events in nearly 30% of symptomatic BrS patients, leading to appropriate therapy in 70% of them. The most commonly detected arrhythmias are AAs and BAs, while VAs are detected only in 7% of cases. Symptom status can be used to guide ILR implantation.
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Síndrome de Brugada , Desfibriladores Implantables , Marcapaso Artificial , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Arritmias Cardíacas/complicaciones , Arritmias Cardíacas/diagnóstico , Síndrome de Brugada/complicaciones , Síndrome de Brugada/diagnóstico , Síndrome de Brugada/terapia , Electrocardiografía/métodos , Electrocardiografía Ambulatoria/métodos , AdultoRESUMEN
AIMS: A dual-chamber pacemaker with closed-loop stimulation (CLS) mode is effective in reducing syncopal recurrences in patients with asystolic vasovagal syncope (VVS). In this study, we explored the haemodynamic and temporal relationship of CLS during a tilt-induced vasovagal reflex. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty patients underwent a tilt test under video recording 3.9 years after CLS pacemaker implantation. Three patients were excluded from the analysis because of no VVS induced by the tilt test (n = 1) and protocol violation (n = 2). In 14 of the remaining 17 patients, CLS pacing emerged during the pre-syncopal phase of circulatory instability when the mean intrinsic heart rate (HR) was 88 ± 12â b.p.m. and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 108 ± 19â mmHg. The CLS pacing rate thereafter rapidly increased to 105 ± 14â b.p.m. within a median of 0.1â min [inter-quartile range (IQR), 0.1-0.7â min] when the SBP was 99 ± 21â mmHg. At the time of maximum vasovagal effect (syncope or pre-syncope), SBP was 63 ± 17â mmHg and the CLS rate was 95 ± 13â b.p.m. The onset of CLS pacing was 1.7â min (IQR, 1.5-3.4) before syncope or lowest SBP. The total duration of CLS pacing was 5.0â min (IQR, 3.3-8.3). Closed-loop stimulation pacing was not observed in three patients who had a similar SBP decrease from 142 ± 22â mmHg at baseline to 69 ± 4â mmHg at the time of maximum vasovagal effect, but there was no significant increase in HR (59 ± 1â b.p.m.). CONCLUSION: The reproducibility of a vasovagal reflex was high. High-rate CLS pacing was observed early during the pre-syncopal phase in most patients and persisted, although attenuated, at the time of maximum vasovagal effect. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06038708.
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Marcapaso Artificial , Síncope Vasovagal , Humanos , Estimulación Cardíaca Artificial/métodos , Hemodinámica , Marcapaso Artificial/efectos adversos , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Síncope Vasovagal/diagnóstico , Síncope Vasovagal/prevención & control , Pruebas de Mesa Inclinada/métodosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Approximately 50% of patients with unexplained syncope and negative head-up tilt test (HUTT) who have an electrocardiogram (ECG) documentation of spontaneous syncope during implantable loop recorder (ILR) show an asystolic pause at the time of the event. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the age distribution and clinical predictors of asystolic syncope detected by ILR in patients with unexplained syncope and negative HUTT. METHODS: This research employed a retrospective, single-center study of consecutive patients. The ILR-documented spontaneous syncope was classified according to the International Study on Syncope of Uncertain Etiology (ISSUE) classification. RESULTS: Among 113 patients (54.0 ± 19.6 years; 46% male), 49 had an ECG-documented recurrence of syncope during the observation period and 28 of these later (24.8%, corresponding to 57.1% of the patients with a diagnostic event) had a diagnosis of asystolic syncope at ILR: type 1A was present in 24 (85.7%), type 1B in 1 (3.6%), and type 1C in 3 (10.7%) patients. The age distribution of asystolic syncope was bimodal, with a peak at age < 19 years and a second peak at the age of 60-79 years. At Cox multivariable analysis, syncope without prodromes (OR 3.7; p = 0.0008) and use of beta blockers (OR 3.2; p = 0.002) were independently associated to ILR-detected asystole. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with unexplained syncope and negative HUTT, the age distribution of asystolic syncope detected by ILR is bimodal, suggesting a different mechanism responsible for asystole in both younger and older patients. The absence of prodromes and the use of beta blockers are independent predictors of ILR-detected asystole.
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Paro Cardíaco , Síncope , Humanos , Masculino , Adulto Joven , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Femenino , Estudios Retrospectivos , Distribución por Edad , Síncope/diagnóstico , Síncope/etiología , Paro Cardíaco/complicaciones , Electrocardiografía , Electrocardiografía Ambulatoria/efectos adversosRESUMEN
AIMS: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) drops recorded by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) identify patients with susceptibility to reflex syncope and orthostatic intolerance. We tested the hypothesis that treatments aimed to increase BP (reassurance, education, and lifestyle measures plus pharmacological strategies) can reduce SBP drops. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a multicentre, observational proof-of-concept study performed in patients with reflex syncope and/or orthostatic intolerance and with SBP drops on a screening ABPM. Among 144 eligible patients, 111 underwent a second ABPM on average 2.5 months after start of treatment. Overall, mean 24-h SBP increased from 114.1 ± 12.1 to 121.4 ± 14.5â mmHg (P < 0.0001). The number of SBP drops <90 and <100â mmHg decreased by 61%, 46% during daytime, and by 48% and 37% during 24-h period, respectively (P < 0.0001 for all). The dose-response relationship between difference in 24-h average SBP increase and reduction in number of SBP drops reached a plateau around â¼15â mmHg increase of 24-h SBP. The reduction in SBP drop rate was consistent and significant in patients who underwent deprescription of hypotensive medications (n = 44) and in patients who received BP-rising drugs (n = 67). CONCLUSION: In patients with reflex syncope and/or orthostatic intolerance, an increase in average 24-h SBP, regardless of the implemented strategy, significantly reduced the number of SBP drops and symptom burden. A 13â mmHg increase in 24-h SBP appears to represent the optimal goal for aborting the maximal number of SBP drops, representing a possible target for future interventions. ClincalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05729724.
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Hipertensión , Hipotensión , Intolerancia Ortostática , Síncope Vasovagal , Humanos , Antihipertensivos/uso terapéutico , Presión Sanguínea , Monitoreo Ambulatorio de la Presión Arterial , Hipertensión/tratamiento farmacológico , Intolerancia Ortostática/diagnóstico , Intolerancia Ortostática/tratamiento farmacológico , Reflejo , Síncope Vasovagal/diagnóstico , Síncope Vasovagal/prevención & control , Prueba de Estudio ConceptualRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Remote monitoring is recommended for patients with implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs), but compared to other cardiac implantable devices, ICMs are less accurate and transmit a higher number of alerts. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of false-positive (FP) arrhythmic alerts in patients with unexplained syncope who were implanted with ICM and followed by an automatic remote monitoring system. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated all consecutive patients who received a long-sensing vector ICM for unexplained syncope between January 2019 to September 2021 at our Syncope Unit. The primary endpoint was the incidence of the first FP episode. The secondary endpoints included assessing the incidence of FP episodes for all types of algorhythms and indentifying the reasons for the misdetection of these episodes. RESULTS: Among 105 patients (44.8% males, median age 51 years), 51 (48.6%) transmitted at least one FP alert during a median follow-up of 301 days. The presence of pre-ventricular complexes (PVCs) on the resting electrocardiogram was the only clinical characteristic associated with an increased risk of FP alerts (adjusted Hazard ratio [HR] 5.76 [2.66-12.4], p = 0.010). The other significant device-related variables were a low-frequency filter at 0.05 Hz versus the default 0.5 Hz (adjusted HR 3.82 [1.38-10.5], p = 0.010) and the R-wave amplitude (adjusted HR 0.35 [0.13-0.99], p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: Patients who have PVCs are at higher risk of inappropriate ICM activations. To reduce the occurrence of FP alerts, it may be beneficial to target a large R-wave amplitude during device insertion and avoid programming a low-frequency filter at 0.05 Hz.
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Arritmias Cardíacas , Electrocardiografía , Masculino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Femenino , Estudios Retrospectivos , Arritmias Cardíacas/diagnóstico , Arritmias Cardíacas/complicaciones , Síncope/diagnóstico , Síncope/etiología , Electrocardiografía AmbulatoriaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The study compared clinical characteristics and response at head-up tilt test (HUTT) between situational (SS) and vasovagal syncope (VVS). METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent nitroglycerin-potentiated HUTT were retrospectively dichotomised into two groups: those with a history of SS and those with a history of VVS. The patients with SS were further subdivided into patients with SS alone and with SS and at least one episode of VVS. RESULTS: 1285 patients were enrolled: 246 (19.1%) had SS (SS alone in 121 and SS+VVS in 125). Patients with SS were older (48.8±20.0 vs 44.4±19.1, p=0.007) and more frequently male (57.3% vs 47.7%, p=0.001). At multivariable analysis, smoking habit (OR 2.28; p<0.0001), history of traumatic syncope (OR 2.29; p=0.0001) and ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (OR 4.74; p<0.0001) were independently associated with SS. HUTT was positive in 175 (71.1%) patients with SS and in 737 (70.9%) patients with VVS (p=0.9). Patients with SS showed more mixed (42.3% vs 32.0%, p=0.002) and vasodepressor forms (10.6% vs 6.1%, p=0.01) and less cardioinhibitory responses compared with others (18.3% vs 32.8%, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with VVS, patients with SS have different clinical characteristics and a higher prevalence of hypotensive drugs leading to hypotensive susceptibility. The positivity rate of HUTT is high and similar to that of VVS, although patients with SS show a higher prevalence of hypotensive responses.
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Síncope Vasovagal , Síncope , Humanos , Masculino , Estudios Retrospectivos , Síncope/diagnóstico , Síncope/etiología , Síncope Vasovagal/diagnóstico , Pruebas de Mesa Inclinada , NitroglicerinaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The traditional nitroglycerin (NTG) head-up tilt test (HUTT) is time-consuming and the test duration is a barrier to widespread utilization in clinical practice. It was hypothesized that a short-duration protocol is not inferior to the traditional protocol regarding the positivity rate and has a similar distribution of hemodynamic response. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients undergoing HUTT were randomized 1:1 to a 10 min passive phase plus a 10 min 0.3 mg NTG if the passive phase was negative (Fast) or to a 20 min passive phase plus a 15 min 0.3 mg NTG if the passive phase was negative (Traditional). A sample size of 277 patients for each group achieved 80% power to detect an expected difference of 0% with a non-inferiority margin of -10% using a one-sided t-test and assuming a significant level alpha of 0.025. A total of 554 consecutive patients (mean age 46.6 ± 19.3 years, 47.6% males) undergoing HUTT for suspected vasovagal syncope were randomly assigned to the Fast (n = 277) or Traditional (n = 277) protocol. A positive response was defined as the induction of syncope in presence of hypotension/bradycardia, and was observed in 167 (60.3%) patients with Fast and in 162 (58.5%) patients with the Traditional protocol. There was a trend of lesser vasodepressor response (14.8% Fast vs. 20.6% Traditional) which was significant during the passive phase (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic value of the Fast HUTT protocol is similar to that of the Traditional protocol and therefore the Fast protocol can be used instead of the Traditional protocol.
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Nitroglicerina , Síncope Vasovagal , Masculino , Humanos , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Femenino , Síncope Vasovagal/diagnóstico , Vasodilatadores , Síncope/diagnóstico , Pruebas de Mesa Inclinada/métodos , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como AsuntoRESUMEN
Syncope is a complex clinical manifestation that presents considerable diagnostic difficulties and, consequently, numerous critical issues regarding fitness for work, especially for high-risk tasks. To date, it is impossible to quantify the exact impact of syncope on work and public safety since it is highly improbable to identify loss of consciousness as the fundamental cause of work or driving-related accidents, especially fatal injuries. Working at high-risk jobs such as public transport operators, in high elevations, or with exposure to moving parts, construction equipment, fireworks, or explosives demand attention and total awareness. Currently, no validated criteria or indicators are available for occupational risk stratification of a patient with reflex syncope to return to work. By drawing inspiration from the updated literature, this narrative review intends to summarise the leading knowledge required regarding the return to work for subjects affected by syncope. According to the available data, the authors highlighted some key findings, summarised in macro-items, such as defined risk stratification for vasovagal accidents, return to work after a critical event, and a focus on pacemaker (PM) implementation. Lastly, the authors proposed a flowchart for occupational physicians to help them manage the cases of workers affected by syncope and exposed to levels of risk that could represent a danger to the workers' health.
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Salud Laboral , Marcapaso Artificial , Síncope Vasovagal , Humanos , Síncope Vasovagal/etiología , Síncope Vasovagal/diagnóstico , Síncope/complicaciones , Marcapaso Artificial/efectos adversos , TransportesRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Little is still known about the positivity rate of nitroglycerin (NTG) potentiated head-up tilt test (HUTT) according to the history-based clinical features of syncope. The study aimed to compare the HUTT positivity rate and type of responses in patients with classical and non-classical vasovagal syncope (VVS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated all consecutive patients who underwent NTG-potentiated HUTT for VVS. The study population was dichotomized into classical and non-classical VVS. RESULTS: A total of 1285 VVS patients (45± 19.1 years; 49.6% male) were enrolled: 627 (48.8%) had a history of classical VVS and 658 (51.2%) of non-classical VVS. HUTT was positive in 866 (67.4%) patients. The positivity rate was significantly higher in patients with classical compared to those with non-classical VVS (81.5% vs 54%; P< 0.0001). Cardioinhibitory response showed similar total positivity rate (27.6% vs 31%; P= 0.17), but higher relative prevalence among positive tests (57.7% vs 33.9%, P< 0.0001) in patients with non-classical VVS. At multivariable analysis, classical reflex syncope, male sex, history of traumatic syncope and use of diuretics were independent predictors of HUTT positivity. CONCLUSION: The clinical presentation of syncope influences the overall HUTT positivity rate and the type of responses. Cardioinhibitory response and traumatic syncope are more likely in patients with non-classical VVS.
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Síncope Vasovagal , Síncope , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Estudios Retrospectivos , Síncope/diagnóstico , Síncope Vasovagal/diagnóstico , Pruebas de Mesa Inclinada , NitroglicerinaRESUMEN
AIMS: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical predictors of cardioinhibitory (CI) responses with asystole at the nitroglycerin (NTG)-potentiated head-up tilt test (HUTT) in patients with a history of syncope admitted to a tertiary referral syncope unit. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated all consecutive patients who underwent NTG-potentiated HUTT for suspected reflex syncope at our institution from March 1 2017 to May 1 2020. The prevalence of HUTT-induced CI syncope was assessed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to test the association of asystolic response to HUTT with a set of clinical covariates. RESULTS: We enrolled 1285 patients (45 ± 19.1 years; 49.6% male); 368 (28.6%) showed HUTT-induced CI response with asystole. A multivariate analysis revealed that the following factors were independently associated with HUTT-induced CI syncope: male sex (OR 1.48; ConInt 1.14-1.92; P = 0.003), smoking (OR 2.22; ConInt 1.56-3.115; P < 0.001), traumatic syncope (OR: 2.81; ConInt 1.79-4.42; P < 0.001), situational syncope (OR 0.45; ConInt 0.27-0.73; P = 0.002), and the use of diuretics (OR 9.94; ConInt 3.83-25.76; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The cardioinhibitory syncope with asystole induced by NTG-potentiated HUTT is more frequent than previously reported. The male gender, smoking habit, history of traumatic syncope, and use of diuretics were independent predictors of HUTT-induced CI responses. Conversely, the history of situational syncope seems to reduce this probability.