Transient Loss of Consciousness - Incidence

Hospital Studies

Transient Loss of Consciousness is a problem we encounter frequently in medical practice. It represents between 1-3% of Emergency Department visits and up to 6% of hospital admissions.

Syncope will have been the cause in the majority of these presentations.

The incidence of syncope as a cause of transient loss of consciousness has been estimated from the review of emergency department data in a number of studies. These may be underestimates due to misclassification of syncope as seizures and lack of concordance between initial and final diagnoses.

Population Studies

Population studies have recorded syncope incidence and prevalence in various groups. Syncope has been reported to occur in:

• 15% of children before the age of 18.
• 39% of medical students median age 21.
• 35% of people aged 35-60.
• 23% of the elderly (>70) over a 10 years period.

 

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