| Variables | Overall N = 2,7031 |
Male N = 1,5881 |
Female N = 1,1151 |
p-value2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syncopal event: Major | ||||
| New onset CP, breathlessness, abdominal pain, headache | 941 (35%) | 531 (34%) | 410 (37%) | 0.073 |
| Syncope during exertion or when supine | 284 (11%) | 185 (12%) | 99 (8.9%) | 0.021 |
| Sudden onset palpitation immediately followed by syncope | 205 (7.9%) | 97 (6.3%) | 108 (10%) | <0.001 |
| Syncopal event: Minor | ||||
| No warning symptoms or short (<10sec) prodrome | 472 (18%) | 283 (18%) | 189 (17%) | 0.6 |
| Family history of SCD at young age | 266 (11%) | 152 (10%) | 114 (11%) | 0.6 |
| Syncope in the sitting position | 1,052 (39%) | 611 (39%) | 441 (40%) | 0.5 |
| Past medical history: Major | ||||
| Severe structural or coronary heart disease: heart failure, low LVEF, previous MI | 602 (22%) | 442 (28%) | 160 (14%) | <0.001 |
| Physical examination: Major | ||||
| Unexplained systolic BP<90mmHg in the ED | 62 (2.3%) | 46 (2.9%) | 16 (1.4%) | 0.012 |
| Suggestion of GI bleeding on examination | 29 (1.1%) | 21 (1.3%) | 8 (0.7%) | 0.13 |
| Persistent bradycardia (<40bpm) in awake state in absence of physical training | 21 (0.8%) | 14 (0.9%) | 7 (0.6%) | 0.5 |
| Undiagnosed systolic murmur | 155 (6.0%) | 85 (5.6%) | 70 (6.6%) | 0.3 |
| Ecg: Major | ||||
| ECG changes consistent with acute ischemia | 361 (13%) | 233 (15%) | 128 (11%) | 0.016 |
| Mobitz II second- and third-degree AV block | 27 (1.0%) | 16 (1.0%) | 11 (1.0%) | >0.9 |
| Slow AF (<40bpm) | 1 (<0.1%) | 1 (<0.1%) | 0 (0%) | >0.9 |
| Persistent sinus brady (<40bpm) or repetitive sinoatrial block with pauses >3sec | 3 (0.1%) | 3 (0.2%) | 0 (0%) | 0.3 |
| Bundle branch block, intraventricular conduction disturbance, ventricular hypertrophy or Q waves consistent with ischemic heart disease or cardiomyopathy | 704 (26%) | 481 (30%) | 223 (20%) | <0.001 |
| Sustained and non-sustained VT | 19 (0.7%) | 13 (0.8%) | 6 (0.5%) | 0.4 |
| Dysfunction of an implantable cardiac device (Pacemaker or ICD) | 2 (<0.1%) | 2 (0.1%) | 0 (0%) | 0.5 |
| Type I Brugada pattern | 2 (<0.1%) | 1 (<0.1%) | 1 (<0.1%) | >0.9 |
| QTc >460ms in repeated 12-lead ECGs indicating LQTS | 583 (22%) | 327 (21%) | 256 (23%) | 0.14 |
| ECG: Minor | ||||
| Mobitz II first- and first-degree AV block with markedly prolonged PR | 75 (2.8%) | 61 (3.8%) | 14 (1.3%) | <0.001 |
| Asymptomatic inappropriate mild sinus bradycardia 40-50 or slow AF (40-50bpm) | 100 (3.7%) | 72 (4.5%) | 28 (2.5%) | 0.006 |
| Paroxysmal SVT or atrial fibrillation | 45 (1.7%) | 25 (1.6%) | 20 (1.8%) | 0.7 |
| Pre-excited QRS | 0 (NA%) | 0 (NA%) | 0 (NA%) | |
| Short QTc interval <340ms | 13 (0.5%) | 7 (0.4%) | 6 (0.5%) | 0.7 |
| At least 1 criterion | ||||
| Any major | 1,974 (73%) | 1,173 (74%) | 801 (72%) | 0.2 |
| Any minor | 1,601 (59%) | 941 (59%) | 660 (59%) | >0.9 |
| Minor as major | 122 (4.5%) | 93 (5.9%) | 29 (2.6%) | <0.001 |
| Classified as high risk | 2,004 (74%) | 1,193 (75%) | 811 (73%) | 0.2 |
| Need for treatment of syncope | 317 (12%) | 208 (13%) | 109 (9.8%) | 0.008 |
| Any potentially severe co-existing disease that requires admission | 34 (1.3%) | 19 (1.2%) | 15 (1.3%) | 0.7 |
| Need of further urgent evaluation | 682 (25%) | 433 (27%) | 249 (22%) | 0.004 |
| Injury caused by syncope | 119 (4.4%) | 79 (5.0%) | 40 (3.6%) | 0.083 |
| High risk and admission required | 770 (28%) | 498 (31%) | 272 (24%) | <0.001 |
| 1 n (%) | ||||
| 2 Pearson’s Chi-squared test; Fisher’s exact test | ||||