Transient loss of consciousness as reason for admission to primary health care emergency room

OBJECTIVE: To study the occurrence and main causes of transient loss of consciousness in primary health care. DESIGN: A 4-month prospective survey. SETTING: Primary health care emergency room of the City of Tampere, Finland. SUBJECTS: Consecutive patients, aged over 15 years, admitted to the emergency room. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The overall prevalence of loss of consciousness divided into three subgroups: seizure, syncope and uncertain, and their distribution by gender and age. The prevalence of epilepsy, coronary heart disease and alcohol abuse among these diagnostic subgroups. RESULTS: Of all emergency room visits, 1.2% were for loss of consciousness. Of these, 53% were diagnosed as seizures, 33% as syncope attacks and 14% as uncertain. In the seizure group, 75% of patients were men and 67% had a history of alcohol abuse. In the syncope group, 44% of patients had coronary heart disease and 68% were women. CONCLUSION: Loss of consciousness is a fairly frequent problem for the primary health care emergency room. A history of alcohol abuse is commonly associated with seizures.