Clinical Efficacy of Empirical Therapy in Children with Vasovagal Syncope

Abstract

(1) Background: This case-control study was designed to assess the efficacy of empiric treatment for vasovagal syncope in children; (2) Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 181 children with vasovagal syncope from the Department of Pediatrics of Peking University First Hospital. The participants were categorized into four groups, based on the empiric treatment received: conventional treatment, including health education and orthostatic training; conventional treatment plus oral rehydration salts; conventional treatment plus metoprolol; conventional treatment plus midodrine hydrochloride. Patients were followed up to evaluate the syncopal or presyncopal recurrence. Kaplan–Meier curves were drawn to explore the syncopal or presyncopal recurrence in children, and the differences were compared among the groups using a log-rank test; (3) Results: Among the 181 children with vasovagal syncope, 11 were lost to follow-up. The median time of follow-up was 20 (8, 42) months. The Kaplan–Meier survival curve showed no significant difference in syncopal or presyncopal recurrence in children treated with different empiric options according to a log-rank test (χ2 = 1.328, p = 0.723); (4) Conclusions: The efficacy of unselected empiric therapy of vasovagal syncope in children was limited, and the individualized therapies merit further studies.