Transient Loss of Consciousness - Prognosis

Determining the underlying cause of an episode of transient loss of consciousness is important because the cause may be associated with increased mortality.

• Patients with a cardiac cause of syncope are at increased risk of cardiovascular events and death from any cause.
  • It is therefore essential to exclude a cardiac cause of loss of consciousness.
• Patients with vasovagal and other hypotensive causes of syncope are not at increased risk of death but can suffer from morbidity related to their condition.

* In the Framingham Study Neurologic Causes of 'Syncope' included transient loss of consciousness due to cerebrovascular diease and seizures.

 

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