open access

Vol 24, No 5 (2017)
Original articles — Clinical cardiology
Submitted: 2016-05-27
Accepted: 2016-08-05
Published online: 2016-09-23
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How does the estimated phase of menstrual cycle or menopause influence the prevalence of vasovagal syncope induced by head-up tilt test

Artur Z. Pietrucha1, Joanna Jędrzejczyk-Spaho1, Ewa Konduracka, Irena Bzukała, Krzysztof Krawczyk, Olga Kruszelnicka-Kwiatkowska, Jadwiga Nessler
·
Pubmed: 27665856
·
Cardiol J 2017;24(5):523-529.
Affiliations
  1. Syncope Unit, Depar tment of Coronary Artery Disease and Hear t Failure, Institute of Car diology, Medical School of Jagiellonian Univer sity, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland

open access

Vol 24, No 5 (2017)
Original articles — Clinical cardiology
Submitted: 2016-05-27
Accepted: 2016-08-05
Published online: 2016-09-23

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of syncope induced by head-up tilt test (HUTT) and the type of positive vasovagal response to the orthostatic stress in a relationship to the estimated phase of menstrual cycle (follicular phase, luteal phase) or menopause.

Methods: We observed a cohort of 500 women at age 13–89 years (median of age 37.5), referred to HUTT. Phase of the menstrual cycle was determined on the basis of the usual length of menstrual cycle and the day of the cycle at the time of the study. We assumed that the length of the luteal phase is constant and it is 14 days.

Results: In premenopausal patients, the occurrence of the mixed and cardioinhibitory response was significantly more frequent in comparison to postmenopausal women (48.8 vs. 35.1% and 19.7 vs. 12.4%, respectively; p < 0.00001), while the occurrence of the vasodepressive one was significantly less frequent (7.3% vs. 28.6%; p < 0.00001) in that group of patients. Women in follicular phase presented vasodepressive response during HUTT more often than woman in the luteal phase (10.0% vs. 4.1%, p < 0.00001).

Conclusions: Among women referred for HUTT, the prevalence of the vasovagal syndrome did not differ between those that were pre- and post-menopausal. Higher incidence of vasodepressive reaction in postmenopausal women was observed. Among the premenopausal women, the vasodepressive type of vasovagal syndrome occurred more often in follicular then in luteal phase.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of syncope induced by head-up tilt test (HUTT) and the type of positive vasovagal response to the orthostatic stress in a relationship to the estimated phase of menstrual cycle (follicular phase, luteal phase) or menopause.

Methods: We observed a cohort of 500 women at age 13–89 years (median of age 37.5), referred to HUTT. Phase of the menstrual cycle was determined on the basis of the usual length of menstrual cycle and the day of the cycle at the time of the study. We assumed that the length of the luteal phase is constant and it is 14 days.

Results: In premenopausal patients, the occurrence of the mixed and cardioinhibitory response was significantly more frequent in comparison to postmenopausal women (48.8 vs. 35.1% and 19.7 vs. 12.4%, respectively; p < 0.00001), while the occurrence of the vasodepressive one was significantly less frequent (7.3% vs. 28.6%; p < 0.00001) in that group of patients. Women in follicular phase presented vasodepressive response during HUTT more often than woman in the luteal phase (10.0% vs. 4.1%, p < 0.00001).

Conclusions: Among women referred for HUTT, the prevalence of the vasovagal syndrome did not differ between those that were pre- and post-menopausal. Higher incidence of vasodepressive reaction in postmenopausal women was observed. Among the premenopausal women, the vasodepressive type of vasovagal syndrome occurred more often in follicular then in luteal phase.

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Keywords

head-up tilt test, vasovagal syndrome, syncope, menstrual cycle, menopause

About this article
Title

How does the estimated phase of menstrual cycle or menopause influence the prevalence of vasovagal syncope induced by head-up tilt test

Journal

Cardiology Journal

Issue

Vol 24, No 5 (2017)

Pages

523-529

Published online

2016-09-23

Page views

1609

Article views/downloads

992

DOI

10.5603/CJ.a2016.0067

Pubmed

27665856

Bibliographic record

Cardiol J 2017;24(5):523-529.

Keywords

head-up tilt test
vasovagal syndrome
syncope
menstrual cycle
menopause

Authors

Artur Z. Pietrucha
Joanna Jędrzejczyk-Spaho
Ewa Konduracka
Irena Bzukała
Krzysztof Krawczyk
Olga Kruszelnicka-Kwiatkowska
Jadwiga Nessler

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