Barbara Antonazzo

Dr. Barbara Antonazzo


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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14 August 2026 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
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Journal Article
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BABarbara Antonazzo
Barbara Antonazzo
ASAnna Sirignano
Anna Sirignano
MSMartina Salvini
Martina Salvini
FRFrancesca Flavia Rossi
Francesca Flavia Rossi
SRStefano Ronzoni
Stefano Ronzoni
Simone CalcagnoSimone Calcagno
Simone Calcagno
Syncope in older adults is common, heterogeneous, and frequently misclassified as an unexplained fall, leading to injury, fear of recurrence, and costly, low-yield testing and hospitalization. The 2018 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines emphasize structured initial evaluation (history with witnesses, orthostatic blood pressure, and 12-lead ECG), risk-feature-guided disposition, and targeted second-line investigations rather than routine neuroimaging or carotid duplex ultrasound. We performed a structured narrative review anchored to the ESC 2018 Guidelines, searching MEDLINE/PubMed up to February 2026 for randomized trials, observational cohorts, and systematic reviews with substantial representation of adults aged ≥65 years and extracting geriatric-relevant outcomes including injury, falls, admission, arrhythmic diagnoses, and short-term serious events. Evidence since 2018 supports the enduring value of the ESC 2018 Guidelines’ framework but highlights the need for geriatric adaptation: repeated orthostatic phenotyping (including post-prandial and delayed hypotension), systematic deprescribing, and explicit integration of frailty, cognition, and trauma risk into disposition decisions. Post-2018 data strengthen mechanism-based strategies, including earlier implantable loop recorders with remote monitoring and selective pacing for tilt-induced asystolic reflex syncope, while cardioneuroablation remains investigational for most elders. We propose a pragmatic pathway prioritizing diagnostic yield, minimizing low-value testing, and aligning interventions with patient goals and functional outcomes to reduce recurrences and support safer transitions.