Single center experience in Japanese patients with syncope.
OBJECTIVE
The present diagnostic method and features of syncope in Japan are unclear. Implantable loop recorder (ILR) and head-up tilt tests have recently become available for diagnosing syncope. The examination method and rates of diagnosing syncope may vary. This study aimed to clarify the present diagnostic method and features of syncope in a single Japanese medical center.


RESULTS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients who were seen at our hospital from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2012. A total of 547 patients (328 men, 60.4±21.5 years) with syncope were seen at our hospital. Reflex syncope was diagnosed in 29.1% of the cases, orthostatic hypotension in 11.7%, cardiac syncope in 34.0%, and unexplained syncope in 23.9% by initial and early evaluations. The number of patients with situational syncope and orthostatic hypotension that could be diagnosed in the initial evaluation of the first examination was significantly greater than that in subsequent evaluations. Forty-three percent of the unexplained syncope patients received an ILR. The consent rate for ILR implantations in the unexplained syncope patients with a suspected arrhythmia nature was 53.1%. The cumulative ILR diagnostic rates were 47% and 65% at 1 and 2 years after the ILR implantation, respectively. The estimated ILR diagnostic rates were significantly greater than that for conventional test without using an ILR. When patients with unexplained syncope could be diagnosed, the recurrent symptoms were greatly reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
Syncope is induced by various causes in Japan. It is important that we understand the characteristics of each syncope cause. The consent rate for implanting an ILR in appropriate unexplained syncope patients is low. We need to educate these patients about the importance of making a diagnosis of syncope.
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: onutatu@med.showa-u.ac.jp.
Tatsuya
T
Onuki
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Hiroyuki
H
Ito
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Akinori
A
Ochi
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Yuta
Y
Chiba
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Shiro
S
Kawasaki
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshimi
Y
Onishi
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Yumi
Y
Munetsugu
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Miwa
M
Kikuchi
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshino
Y
Minoura
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Norikazu
N
Watanabe
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Taro
T
Adachi
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Taku
T
Asano
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Kaoru
K
Tanno
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Youichi
Y
Kobayashi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D018667:Tilt-Table Test
Diagnostic method; Implantable loop recorder; Syncope; Unexplained syncope