Contents

Disclaimer

Oxford University Press makes no representation, express or implied, that the drug dosages in this book are correct. Readers must therefore always check the product information and clinical procedures with the most up to date published product information and data sheets provided by the manufacturers and the most recent codes of conduct and safety regulations. The authors and the publishers do not accept responsibility or legal liability for any errors in the text or for the misuse or misapplication of material in this work. Except where otherwise stated, drug dosages and recommendations are for the non-pregnant adult who is not breastfeeding.

Show Summary Details
Page of

Syncope and neurocardiovascular instability 

Syncope and neurocardiovascular instability
Chapter:
Syncope and neurocardiovascular instability
Author(s):

Rose Anne Kenny

and Conal Cunningham

DOI:
10.1093/med/9780198701590.003.0102
Page of

PRINTED FROM OXFORD MEDICINE ONLINE (www.oxfordmedicine.com). © Oxford University Press, 2021. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single chapter of a title in Oxford Medicine Online for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

date: 25 July 2021

The prevalence of syncope rises with age and is challenging because of atypical presentation, overlap with falls, and poor recall of events. Cardiac causes and multiple comorbidities are more common, and related morbidity and mortality are higher than in younger patients. Hence, a high index of suspicion for cardiovascular causes of falls and dual pathology will increase successful diagnosis and intervention. Age-related neurohumoral and physiological changes plus chronic diseases and medications often contribute to syncope. Orthostatic hypotension, carotid sinus syndrome, vasovagal syncope, postprandial syncope, sinus node disease, atrioventricular block, and ventricular tachycardia are other common causes. Management is often based on removing or reducing the predisposing or precipitating factors through medication adjustments, behavioural strategies, and more invasive cardiac interventions if indicated. It is often not possible to identify a single cause of syncope in older persons, hence apragmatic management of each diagnosis is recommended.

Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.

Please subscribe or login to access full text content.

If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.

For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.