ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate clinical features and risk factors for recurrent syncope in children with orthostatic intolerance.Methods Patients with orthostatic intolerance and syncope admitted in the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University from January 2014 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed by using t test,Chi -square test,and Fisher′s exact probability method.According to frequency of syncope,all cases were divided into 2 groups,the occasio-nal syncope group and the recurrent syncope group.All risk factors including age,gender,body mass index(BMI),in-ducement,the history of motion sickness,family history,syncope -related injuries,performance of head -up tilt table test,and outcomes of head -up tilt table test were studied statistically and compared within 2 different groups.Results A total of 83 cases were enrolled in this study.Among these children,33 cases(39.76%)were assigned as occasio-nal syncope group,in which 17 cases were male and 16 cases were female and the age ranged from 6 to 18 years with the average age of (9.70 ±2.87)years;50 cases(60.24%)were assigned as recurrent syncope group,in which 27 ca-ses were male and 23 cases were female and the age ranged from 6 to 18 years with the average age of (11.24 ±2.83) years.Of all the investigated risk factors,the BMI and the history of motion sickness were significantly different between 2 groups[(18.84 ±3.49)kg/m2 vs (18.16 ±3.68)kg/m2 ,t =4.82,P =0.001;39.39%(13 /33 cases)vs 70.00%(35 /50 cases),χ2 =7.64,P =0.006].No significant difference was found in age distribution(6 -9 years,10 -14 years,15 -18 years)between 2 groups(P =0.428).There were no significant differences in gender (male /female), family history,or syncope -related injuries between 2 groups[17 /16 cases vs 27 /23 cases;3.03%(1 /33 cases)vs 10.00%(5 /50 cases);15.15%(5 /33 cases)vs 20.00%(10 /50 cases),all P >0.05].And no significant difference was found in inducement (prolonged standing,body posture change,emotional stress/emotional stimuli,muggy environ-ment,movement)between 2 groups [78.79% (23 /33 cases)vs 72.00% (36 /50 cases);9.09% (3 /33 cases)vs 14.00%(7 /50 cases);3.03%(1 /33 cases)vs 6.00%(3 /50 cases);12.12% (4 /33 cases)vs 10.00% (5 /50 cases);3.03%(1 /33 cases)and 12.00%(6 /50 cases),all P >0.05].And performances of head -up tilt table test (blurred vision/blacked out,nausea/vomiting,sweating,dizzy/headache,palpation,anhelation /chest tightness,hot, weak)between 2 groups showed no significant differences[18.18%(6 /33 cases)vs 12.00%(6 /50 cases);36.36%(12 /33 cases)vs 50.00%(25 /50 cases);24.24%(8 /33 cases)vs 26.00%(13 /50 cases);51.52%(17 /33 cases) vs 58.00%(29 /50 cases);6.06%(2 /33 cases)vs 16.00%(8 /50 cases);27.27%(9 /33 cases)vs 22.00%(11 /33 cases);33.33%(11 /33 cases)vs 32.00%(16 /50 cases);12.12%(4 /33 cases)vs 16.00%(8 /50 cases),all P >0.05].Also there were no significant differences in outcomes of head -up tilt table test between 2 groups(P =0.589). Conclusions The risk factors for recurrent syncope in children with orthostatic intolerance were low BMI and the his-tory of motion sickness for such children,and more positive and effective clinical intervention can improve the living quality of children with orthostatic intolerance to some extent.