Cough syncope: a retrospective study of 101 patients

Cough syncope denotes transient loss of consciousness triggered by severe coughing. Classically affecting middle-aged, overweight male smokers with obstructive airway disease [1], its characteristics in Chinese populations remain undefined. Current evidence—predominantly case reports—links cough syncope to diverse associated conditions [2–4]. While obstructive airway disease is considered to potentiate cough-induced intrathoracic pressure surges, pulmonary function in this cohort has never been quantified. This study therefore characterizes clinical profiles, associated conditions, and pulmonary function in cough syncope.