Why the study?
How can benign causes of syncope be distinguished from life-threatening conditions in competitive athletes?
How can benign causes of syncope be distinguished from life-threatening conditions in competitive athletes?
In competitive athletes, a thorough history, physical examination, and ECG are essential to differentiate common benign neurocardiogenic syncope from potentially fatal cardiac causes.
May guide initial syncope evaluation in athletes; leaves open prospective validation of diagnostic yield and outcomes.
Syncope, although common among the general population, is rare among athletes. Syncope can result from any one of several causes. The majority of cases are due to neurocardiogenic syncope, without the potential for sudden death, and due to a sudden reduction in venous return. Cardiac syncope may be due to mechanical or structural factors. A thorough history and physical examination, along with an electrocardiogram, can usually distinguish benign cases from those due to more life-threatening conditions. Those at risk for sudden death need to be identified, so they can be appropriately restricted from further athletic activity.
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Natarajan et al. (2006) studied this question.
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