Transient loss of consciousness as reason for admission to primary health care emergency room.
OBJECTIVE
To study the occurrence and main causes of transient loss of consciousness in primary health care.


METHODS
A 4-month prospective survey.


METHODS
Primary health care emergency room of the City of Tampere, Finland.


METHODS
Consecutive patients, aged over 15 years, admitted to the emergency room.


METHODS
The overall prevalence of loss of consciousness divided into three subgroups: seizure, syncope and uncertain, and their distribution by gender and age. The prevalence of epilepsy, coronary heart disease and alcohol abuse among these diagnostic subgroups.


RESULTS
Of all emergency room visits, 1.2% were for loss of consciousness. Of these, 53% were diagnosed as seizures, 33% as syncope attacks and 14% as uncertain. In the seizure group, 75% of patients were men and 67% had a history of alcohol abuse. In the syncope group, 44% of patients had coronary heart disease and 68% were women.


CONCLUSIONS
Loss of consciousness is a fairly frequent problem for the primary health care emergency room. A history of alcohol abuse is commonly associated with seizures.
Martikainen
Kirsti
K
Department of Social Services and Health Care, City of Tampere, Finland. kirsti.martikainen@tt.tampere.fi
Seppä
Kaija
K
Viita
Paula
P
Rajala
Sulo
S
Laippala
Pekka
P
Keränen
Tapani
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014600:Utilization Review