Characteristics and Admission Patterns of Patients Presenting with Syncope to U.S. Emergency Departments, 1992–2000
Open accessAbstract
Objectives: To describe the characteristics and admission patterns of patients with syncope presenting to U.S. emergency departments (EDs). Methods: The ED portion of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1992–2000, was analyzed. Nationally representative weighted estimates for incidence and admission rates were estimated and stratified by demographic variables. Presence of cardiovascular diagnoses on ED discharge was noted. Results: Of the 865 million ED visits during the nine‐year study period, an estimated 6.7 million (0.77%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.69% to 0.85%) were related to syncope. Higher incidences of ED visits for syncope were found in elder, female, and non‐Hispanic patients compared with their reference groups. The overall admission rate was 32% (95% CI = 28% to 36%). Older, male, and white patients were admitted more frequently than their counterparts. Of patients older than 80 years of age, 58% (95% CI = 49% to 67%) were admitted. Associated cardiovascular International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD‐9), codes for ischemic, structural, and arrhythmic heart disease were noted in 10% (95% CI = 8% to 13%) of patients, and 66% (95% CI = 56% to 76%) of these patients were admitted. Conclusions: Syncope is a frequent reason for ED visits and admissions. Elders and patients with associated cardiovascular diagnoses are frequently discharged, and admission practices appear to deviate from consensus panel guidelines.
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The National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey reported 6.7 million episodes of syncope in the emergency department, or 0.77% of all ED patients.
“The National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey reported 6.7 million episodes of syncope in the emergency department (ED), or 0.77% of all ED patients.”
From 2017 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Patients With Syncope (2017) · cites this paper as [48]
Among patients >80 years of age, 58% were admitted to hospital after syncope.
“Among patients >80 years of age, 58% were admitted to hospital (48).”
From 2017 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Patients With Syncope (2017) · cites this paper as [48]
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References 17 · Cited by 193
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- Authors
- Sun, B. C., Emond, J. A., & Camargo, C. A.
- Affiliations
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Sun, Benjamin C.
- Venue
- Academic Emergency Medicine
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2004-10
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1029-1034
- ISSN
- 1069-6563 (ISSN-L)
- 1553-2712
- OpenAlex
- W2093463118
- Cited by
- 193
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 5.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Academic Emergency Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › Emergency and Acute Care Studies
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
- Keywords
- syncope, emergency department visits, hospitalization rates, patient characteristics, cardiovascular disease, elderly patients, sex differences, racial and ethnic differences, cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease, structural heart disease, emergency department discharge
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Emergency Service, Hospital, Ethnicity, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Admission, Syncope, United States, Incidence, Multivariate Analysis, Logistic Models, Age Distribution, Sex Distribution
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