Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39786439›Full record

Observational studyEuropean heart journal2025

Mechanism of syncope: role of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and cardiovascular autonomic function assessment.

Antonella Groppelli, Vincenzo Russo, Erika Parente, Angelo Comune, Frederik J de Lange, Giulia Rivasi, Martina Rafanelli, Jean Claude Deharo, Jaume Francisco-Pascual, Roberto Maggi and 4 more

Abstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in European heart journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Sensor detection and pacing for impending reflex syncope.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2026
    Review
  5. Current practice in the management of syncope in Italian hospitals: a national survey.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2026
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Pathophysiological aspects of carotid sinus massage.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Antonella GroppelliDepartment of Cardiology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Faint and Fall Research Centre, S. Luca Hospital, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milano 20149, Italy.ORCID 0009-0000-3386-6685
Vincenzo RussoDepartment of Translational Medical Sciences, Cardiology and Syncope Unit, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli'-Monaldi Hospital, Piazzale E. Ruggeri, Naples 80126, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9227-0360
Erika ParenteDepartment of Translational Medical Sciences, Cardiology and Syncope Unit, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli'-Monaldi Hospital, Piazzale E. Ruggeri, Naples 80126, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1246-4876
Angelo ComuneDepartment of Translational Medical Sciences, Cardiology and Syncope Unit, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli'-Monaldi Hospital, Piazzale E. Ruggeri, Naples 80126, Italy.
Frederik J de LangeDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Heart Centre, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands.
Giulia RivasiDivision of Geriatric and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Florence and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2736-2242
Martina RafanelliDivision of Geriatric and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Florence and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
Jean Claude DeharoAssistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Timone, Service de Cardiologie, France and Aix Marseille Université, C2VN, Marseille 13005, France.
Jaume Francisco-PascualUnitat d'Arritmies, Servei de Cardiologia, Hospital Universitari Vall Hebrón i Vall d'Hebron Research Institut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. CIBER-CV, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-8841-2581
Roberto MaggiDepartment of Cardiology, Ospedali del Tigullio, Lavagna, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-0162-5851
Artur FedorowskiDepartment of Cardiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Andrea UngarDivision of Geriatric and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Florence and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
Gianfranco ParatiDepartment of Cardiology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Faint and Fall Research Centre, S. Luca Hospital, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milano 20149, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9402-7439
Michele BrignoleDepartment of Cardiology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Faint and Fall Research Centre, S. Luca Hospital, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milano 20149, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1845-5607

Funding

BIBLIOSAN
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsIdentifying the haemodynamic mechanism of autonomic syncope is the essential pre-requisite for effective and personalized therapy aimed at preventing recurrences. The present study assessed the diagnostic efficacy of a two-step assessment.

methodsMulticentre prospective, cross-sectional, observational study. Patients affected by severe autonomic syncope underwent a two-step assessment including 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and short cardiovascular autonomic function assessment (SCAFA). SCAFA consisted of carotid sinus massage (CSM), performed in patients ≥40 years old, a passive standing test, and a 'fast' head-up tilt test scheduled sequentially during one session on a tilt table.

resultsThe study population consisted of 333 patients, 102 ≤ 40 years old and 231 > 40 years old. Any positive response was observed in 298 (89%) patients (92 [92%] in younger and 134 [89%] in older), with hypotensive phenotype accounting for 226 (68%), bradycardic phenotype for 21 (6%) and mixed phenotype for 51 (15%) of cases. The mean duration of the SCAFA procedure was 25 (IQR 20-32) min. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, CSM, passive standing, and head-up tilt test were positive in 60%, 15%, 3%, and 71% of patients, respectively. More than one test was positive in 51% and 49% of patients ≤40 and >40 years, respectively. Large inter-centre variability of CSM positivity rate, which remained significant after adjustment for demographic and clinical variables, was observed (P = .003).

conclusionsThe standardized 2STEPS protocol offers an easy-to-perform and time-saving diagnostic work-up allowing identification of the haemodynamic mechanism of loss of consciousness in most patients with autonomic syncope. This protocol provides the necessary background for a personalized mechanism-specific therapy.

Indexed as

SyncopeAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAutonomic Nervous SystemBlood Pressure Monitoring, AmbulatoryCarotid SinusCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMassageMiddle AgedProspective StudiesTilt-Table TestAmbulatory blood pressure monitoringBlood pressureBradycardiaCarotid sinus massageHypotensionReflex syncopeStanding testSyncopeTilt testing

Identifiers

PMID39786439
PMCPMC11879164

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.