Amnesia for loss of consciousness is common in vasovagal syncope

Abstract

Amnesia for loss of consciousness is common in VVS. Although more prevalent, it is not unique to older age-groups. Absence of syncope associated bradycardia during HUT testing predicts for A-LOC.

2017 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Patients With Syncope: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society

“…35,45,[666][667][668][669][670][671][672][673][674][675] The vulnerability of older adults to syncope increases because of age-associated cardiovascular and autonomic changes, decreased fluid conservation, 45,671,[676][677][678] and an increased probability of developing multiple concurrent morbidities (with their associated pharmacological treatments) that can overwhelm homeostasis. In many instances, a syncopal event in an older adult is multifactorial, with many predisposing factors present simultaneously.…”

Head Trauma in Elderly Patients: Mechanisms of Injuries and CT Findings

“…Unexplained falls are also common in the elderly [19]. The symptoms of arterial hypotension may be vague, and prodromal symptoms may last for only a short time or even be absent [20,21]. Neurocardiogenic reflex may also provoke a sudden loss of consciousness, especially due to atrioventricular block or, in less common cases, junctional escape rhythm [22].…”

Syncope

“…However, some studies have recently demonstrated that almost 50% of patients during head up tilt test, whatever their age but predominantly older patients, denied any TLOC, although the loss of consciousness was confirmed by nurses and/or doctors. 6 In patients in whom TLOC remains uncertain, occurrence of loss of postural tone is a strong argument to consider that TLOC has really occurred.…”