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Epidemiology of Vasovagal Syncope

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Vasovagal Syncope

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Abstract

Vasovagal syncope is a common symptom, but its true incidence is difficult to estimate because only a small percentage of patients with syncope seek medical advice. The estimated prevalence varies according to the setting and the population studied, but it is likely that up to 40 % of people faint at least once in their life and prevalence is higher in females. Syncope incidence shows a bimodal distribution, with two peaks: before 20 and after 65 years old. While vasovagal syncope is the more likely cause of syncope in young people, cardiovascular diseases, orthostatic hypotension and multiple causes (reflecting a higher frailty) are more prevalent in the elderly.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medicine and Pathophysiology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco”, Ospedale Luigi Sacco, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G.B. Grassi, 74, 20157, Milan, Italy

    Monica Solbiati

  2. Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, 1403, 29St NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 2 T9, Canada

    Robert S. Sheldon

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  1. Monica Solbiati
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  2. Robert S. Sheldon
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Correspondence to Monica Solbiati .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Cardiology, Ospedale Privato Quisisana, Ferrara, Italy

    Paolo Alboni

  2. Department of Medicine - BIOMETRA, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy

    Raffaello Furlan

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Solbiati, M., Sheldon, R.S. (2015). Epidemiology of Vasovagal Syncope. In: Alboni, P., Furlan, R. (eds) Vasovagal Syncope. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09102-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09102-0_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-09101-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-09102-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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