Red Flags of Syncope

Cardiac syncope may lead to a high mortality rate of approximately 10% at 1 year and is, therefore, vital to identify potentially life-threatening cardiac causes¹.

Below are considered reds flags for urgent referral to a Cardiologist:

Persistent bradycardia- heart rates < 60 bpm
Abnormal structural heart conditions, (presence of a cardiac murmur)
Decreased left ventricular ejection fractions < 35%
Long QT syndrome
Brugada syndrome
Ventricular pre-excitation conditions (such as Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome)
Pathological q waves
Sustained atrial arrhythmias
Ventricular arrhythmias
Syncope whilst exercising
Syncope whilst supine
Sudden cardiac death in family < 40 years old
> 65 years old, with syncope in absence of prodrome².

“If a patient has an episode of syncope with physical exertion, that is always abnormal.” Electrophysiologist, Dr John Meulet comments on the significance of syncope as evidence of an underlying heart condition. Watch the video below to learn more:

Learn more about the diagnosis of syncope here.

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