Prevalence of Smoking Among Medical Trainees with Vasovagal Attacks A Cross-Section Study in Jordan

Background Despite its prevalence, vasovagal syncope (VVS) remains poorly understood. This study investigates its pathogenesis by exploring the counteracting effects of smoking on VVS. Methods A self-administered online questionnaire was distributed to Jordanian clinical medical students, interns, and junior residents. The initial sample size was 525; after excluding participants with other syncope types or conditions predisposing to fainting (e.g., anemia, diabetes, seizures), the final sample size was 456. Results Of the sample, 121 (26.5%) were smokers, and 22 (18.2%) of these smokers had VVS. Among the 335 nonsmokers, 72 (21.5%) had VVS. No significant association was found between VVS and smoking tendency (χ²=0.595, p  = 0.188), though vaping showed a borderline trend ( p  = 0.056). Secondary outcomes revealed significant associations between VVS and family history ( p  < 0.001), gender ( p  = 0.008), and occasional/weekly physical activity ( p  = 0.029, p  = 0.004). No associations were detected with stress levels (rate 1: p  = 0.144; rate 2: p  = 0.249) with rate 3 (max) being the intercept of comparison, caffeine ( p  = 0.639), chewing gum ( p  = 0.548), or sleep duration ( p  = 0.107). Conclusion The prevalence of VVS among smoking clinical medical trainees was 18.2%. No link was found between VVS and smoking tendency. Significant associations were observed with family history, gender, and physical activity.