Comparison of frequency of recurrent syncope after Beta-Blocker therapy versus conservative management for patients with vasovagal syncope

Abstract

Beta blockers are among the first-line drugs traditionally used to treat vasovagal syncope (VVS).1 This practice has been based primarily on findings that spontaneous and tilt-table–induced faints generally are preceded by increased blood levels of catecholamines.2,3 Outcomes of β-blocker therapy have been discordant among the few observational4 and randomized5–11 studies performed. In our study, the hypothesis was that β-blocker therapy would be effective in preventing recurrent syncope in patients with VVS. To test this hypothesis, we compared the long-term response in consecutive patients given β-blocker therapy with that in control patients treated conservatively.