title: Inconsistent electrocardiographic testing for syncope in United States emergency departments.
abstract: The electrocardiogram has diagnostic and prognostic value in the evaluation of syncope, and consensus guidelines suggest routine electrocardiographic testing. An analysis of a nationally representative survey suggests that electrocardiographic testing is performed inconsistently in patients presenting with syncope to United States emergency departments, even in high-risk patients, such as the elderly and hospitalized. Variation in electrocardiographic testing represents an opportunity to improve the care of patients presenting with syncope to emergency departments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. bsun@fas.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Benjamin C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Emond
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Camargo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology