The prevalence of loss of consciousness in children of school age

Abstract

Background. The epidemiology of loss of consciousness or syncope in Russian children’s population is unknown. Aim of the study. To determine the frequency of syncope in children and adolescents. In the study of the EPISODE (EPIdemiology of Syncope in schOol chilDren and adolEscents), there were surveyed parents from 85.5% of all school children from one of the central districts of Russia (Vladimir city area, Petushki district). There were 5728 questionnaires with questions about the syncope in their children, cases of sudden death (SD) in the family were common. 1732 questionnaires were returned (30.2%), the girls and boys were 50.8% vs 49.2% respectively. There were divided in 4 groups: A) syncope - 4.2%; B) presyncope - 13.8%; B) Sudden Death (SD) before 50 years old in the family -18.2%; D) 81,9% - without symptoms and SD in the family. In group A, girls dominated as 5.7% versus 2.7%, p <0.00005. The SD in group A was more common than in the children without syncope (42.5% versus 17,1%, p <0.00005). Conclusions: The prevalence of syncope among school children in Russia amounted to 4.2%. Syncope is found mainly in girls. The combination of syncope and SD in the family forms a group of children, in which, first of all, family diseases with the risk of SD should be excluded.