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Analyzes the effect of blood pressure patterns to the survival of the aged. Mortality among groups with lowest systolic and diastolic pressures; Range of blood pressure with least mortality; Implication of the findings on the survival of the elderly.

The prognosis of transient loss of consciousness (LOC) was studied in a one-year follow-up survey. Included were adult patients referred by primary health care physicians for a non-acute specialist consultation during the 2-year period from 01.10.1999 to 30.9.2001. The main outcome measures were recurrence of LOCs during the follow-up, fear of recurrence, injuries, and employment. Altogether, 109 consecutive patients were followed and 39 (36%) suffered a recurrence during the one-year follow-up: 17 (30%) with syncope, 16 (43%) with seizure and six (38%) with uncertain type of LOC. The first ever seizure recurred in 5/9 (56%) during the first year, but only 1 of 17 (6%) first syncope attacks. There was no difference in the recurrence rate if the patient had had previous attacks prior to the index LOC. Injuries, mainly minor, were associated with LOCs in 56% of patients. The risk of injury was highest (83%) with alcohol-related seizures. The unemployment rate was especially high in the seizure group. Fear of recurrence was more common at the beginning than at the end of the follow-up. Conclusions: Seizures recur relatively often, but also recurrent syncope needs more attention-both may cause fear and lead to injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective - To study the occurrence and main causes of transient loss of consciousness in primary health care. Design - A 4-month prospective survey. Setting - Primary health care emergency room of the City of Tampere, Finland. Subjects - Consecutive patients, aged over 15 years, admitted to the emergency room. Main outcome measures - The overall prevalence of loss of consciousness divided into three subgroups: seizure, syncope and uncertain, and their distribution by gender and age. The prevalence of epilepsy, coronary heart disease and alcohol abuse among these diagnostic subgroups. Results - Of all emergency room visits, 1.2% were for loss of consciousness. Of these, 53% were diagnosed as seizures, 33% as syncope attacks and 14% as uncertain. In the seizure group, 75% of patients were men and 67% had a history of alcohol abuse. In the syncope group, 44% of patients had coronary heart disease and 68% were women. Conclusion - Loss of consciousness is a fairly frequent problem for the primary health care emergency room. A history of alcohol abuse is commonly associated with seizures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]