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Cardiovascular Syncope Is the Most Common Cause of Drop Attacks in the Elderly
Author(s) -
DEY A.B.,
STOUT N.R.,
KENNY R.A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1997.tb03911.x
Subject(s) - medicine , syncope (phonology) , cardiology , intensive care medicine
Drop attacks are defined as a sudden loss of postural tone without loss of consciousness. The mechanism is often unknown. This report examines findings in consecutive elderly patients with drop attacks referred to a dedicated “syncope and falls” center. Thirty‐five patients were included. A diagnosis was established in 25 (71 %); cardioinhibitory cartoid sinus syndrome (CSS) or mixed CSS in 15, vasodepressor CSS in 3, orthostatic hypotension in 5, vasovagal syncope in 1, and gait imbalance in 1. In 21%, more than one pathological diagnosis was present. In conclusion, absence of a history of syncope is unreliable in elderly patients, and these individuals should be routinely investigated for hemodynamic changes during carotid massage and standing.