Subsequent Motor Vehicle Accidents After First Episodes of Syncope

Because recurrent syncope after a first episode is relatively common, a logical question is whether a first episode of syncope confers excess risk for subsequent motor vehicle accidents. To shed light on this issue, researchers in British Columbia, Canada, conducted this population-based, retrospective study of 9200 people (median age, 54) who presented to an ED for first episodes of syncope and 34,400 age- and sex-matched controls who presented to an ED for other reasons.

The most common causes of syncope were vasovagal (68%) and orthostatic (12%). During the year after the index ED visit, a first vehicular accident occurred in 9% of the syncope group and in 10% of the control group — a nonsignificant difference. Also, risk for subsequent v…