title: [Etiological diagnosis of syncope and brief loss of consciousness in patients over 65. Results of a multicenter prospective study of 188 cases].
abstract: In a prospective multicentre study a series of 188 patients over 65 years of age admitted for syncope (90) or transient loss of consciousness (98) was collected. There were 120 women and 68 men; mean age was 78.7 +/- 6.6 years; 140 patients had a significant history mainly of arterial hypertension and coronary disease; 81 patients were taking drugs (4.1 on average) and notably diuretics, antihypertensive agents, antiarrhythmic agents, nitrites and psychotropic drugs. The most frequent diagnoses were arrhythmia (20.2 p. 100), postural hypotension (15.4 p. 100), reflex and vasodepressive syncope (12.2 p. 100) and coronary disease (5.3 p. 100). Taken together, these diagnoses could be divided into cardiac diseases (26.5 p. 100), extracardiac diseases (54.2 p. 100), diagnosis unknown (19 p. 100). The condition was iatrogenic in 45 patients (24 p. 100). The means by which the diagnosis was reached were studied: in two-thirds of the cases, careful physical examination and electrocardiography alone provided a diagnosis. Seven patients died during their stay in hospital. Among the 181 survivors 148 (81.7 p. 100) were discharged and returned home.
authors.affiliation: Département de Médecine interne, Groupe hospitalier Cochin, Paris.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Séréni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morcamp
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Houdent
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guillevin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galanaud
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veyssier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Labram
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vinceneux
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pibarot
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000209:etiology*
vernacular_title: Diagnostic étiologique des lipothymies et pertes de connaissance brèves après 65 ans. Résultats d'une étude prospective multicentrique de 188 cas.