RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Syncope is the motivation for numerous diagnostic tests, among them transthoracic echocardiography (TTE); however, previous evidence suggests there is little utility in this test. Our objective was to assess its diagnostic yield in syncope, analysing the effect of age and sex. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted an observational study that included patients with syncope and who underwent TTE between 1990 and 2015. We defined diagnostic findings related to syncope and performed a descriptive analysis, assessing the diagnostic yield (overall and according to age and sex). RESULTS: The study included 3302 patients and measured a diagnostic yield of 8.8%; the most common finding was ventricular dysfunction (4.5%). The probability of a diagnostic TTE significantly increased with age (p<.001) but was low for patients younger than 50 years (2.3%). The male sex was significantly related with a diagnostic TTE (p<.001), mostly due to the higher rate of ventricular dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic yield of TTE in patients with syncope is moderate, low in patients younger than 50 years and lower in women than in men. These factors should be considered when conducting a diagnostic study of patients with syncope.
Assuntos
Ecocardiografia , Síncope , Testes Diagnósticos de Rotina , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
Introducción El síncope es motivo de numerosas pruebas diagnósticas, entre las que está el ecocardiograma transtorácico (ETT). Existe evidencia previa que sugiere escasa utilidad de esta prueba. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar su rendimiento diagnóstico en el síncope, analizando el efecto de la edad y el sexo. Materiales y métodos Estudio observacional en el que se incluyeron pacientes con síncope y ETT entre 1990 y 2015. Se definieron hallazgos diagnósticos relacionados con el síncope. Realizamos un análisis descriptivo evaluando el rendimiento diagnóstico en global, y en función de edad y sexo. Resultados Se incluyeron 3.302 pacientes, siendo el rendimiento diagnóstico del 8,8%; el hallazgo más frecuente fue disfunción ventricular (4,5%). La probabilidad de ETT diagnóstico aumentó significativamente con la edad (p<0,001), siendo baja en menores de 50 años (2,3%). El sexo masculino se relacionó significativamente con ETT diagnóstico (p<0,001), a expensas de mayor frecuencia de disfunción ventricular. Conclusiones El rendimiento diagnóstico del ETT en pacientes con síncope es moderado, siendo bajo en edades inferiores a 50 años, y menor en mujeres que en hombres. Estos factores deben ser tenidos en cuenta a la hora del estudio diagnóstico de los pacientes con síncope (AU)
Introduction Syncope is the motivation for numerous diagnostic tests, among them transthoracic echocardiography (TTE); however, previous evidence suggests there is little utility in this test. Our objective was to assess its diagnostic yield in syncope, analysing the effect of age and sex. Material and methods We conducted an observational study that included patients with syncope and who underwent TTE between 1990-2015. We defined diagnostic findings related to syncope and performed a descriptive analysis, assessing the diagnostic yield (overall and according to age and sex). Results The study included 3,302 patients and measured a diagnostic yield of 8.8%; the most common finding was ventricular dysfunction (4.5%). The probability of a diagnostic TTE significantly increased with age (p<.001) but was low for patients younger than 50 years (2.3%). The male sex was significantly related with a diagnostic TTE (p<.001), mostly due to the higher rate of ventricular dysfunction. Conclusions The diagnostic yield of TTE in patients with syncope is moderate, low in patients younger than 50 years and lower in women than in men. These factors should be considered when conducting a diagnostic study of patients with syncope (AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Ecocardiografia , Síncope/diagnóstico , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores Sexuais , Fatores EtáriosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Syncope is the motivation for numerous diagnostic tests, among them transthoracic echocardiography (TTE); however, previous evidence suggests there is little utility in this test. Our objective was to assess its diagnostic yield in syncope, analysing the effect of age and sex. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted an observational study that included patients with syncope and who underwent TTE between 1990-2015. We defined diagnostic findings related to syncope and performed a descriptive analysis, assessing the diagnostic yield (overall and according to age and sex). RESULTS: The study included 3,302 patients and measured a diagnostic yield of 8.8%; the most common finding was ventricular dysfunction (4.5%). The probability of a diagnostic TTE significantly increased with age (p<.001) but was low for patients younger than 50 years (2.3%). The male sex was significantly related with a diagnostic TTE (p<.001), mostly due to the higher rate of ventricular dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic yield of TTE in patients with syncope is moderate, low in patients younger than 50 years and lower in women than in men. These factors should be considered when conducting a diagnostic study of patients with syncope.
