Antihypertensive therapy and orthostatic responses in elderly hospital in-patients.

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8811625 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0950-9240 (Print) Linking ISSN: 09509240 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Hum Hypertens Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: <2003->: London : Nature Publishing Group
Original Publication: Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK : Scientific & Medical, Macmillan Press, c1987-

Aged* ; Blood Pressure*; Antihypertensive Agents/*therapeutic use ; Hypertension/*drug therapy ; Hypotension, Orthostatic/*physiopathology; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Pressure Determination ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

The study aim was to determine the association between use of antihypertensive drugs and orthostatic hypotension on prolonged standing in an elderly in-patient population. Hospital in-patients aged > 60 years had manually and automatically determined blood pressure (BP) measurements recorded in the supine position. On standing a total of nine measurements were taken over 10 min, six measurements were taken using a mercury sphygmomanometer and three by an automatic monitor. Seventy-four patients of mean age 73 +/- 7 years were studied; 52 (70%) were taking > or = 1 antihypertensive drug and 22 (30%) none. On standing, manually determined systolic BP (SBP) fell to a similar extent in the group of patients taking antihypertensive therapy compared to those not taking such treatment (at 9 min standing: -6 +/- 16 vs -10 +/- 15 mm Hg, respectively) and the frequency of orthostatic hypotension (SBP fall > or = 20 mm Hg) was similar in both groups [at 9 min: 9 (17%) vs 5 (23%)]. Automatically determined measurements also revealed similar orthostatic SBP responses in both treated and non-treated groups (at 8 min: -3 +/- 18 vs -6 +/- 13 mm Hg, respectively) and a similar frequency of orthostatic hypotension. No significant change in standing compared to supine diastolic BP (DBP) measured manually or automatically was seen in either group. Even in the subgroup of patients taking > or = 2 antihypertensive drugs the orthostatichypotension. BP response and the frequency of orthostatic hypotension was similar to that in the non-treated group. In conclusion no association was found between use of antihypertensive therapy and orthostatic hypotension in an elderly in-patient population.

0 (Antihypertensive Agents)

Date Created: 19970501 Date Completed: 19970820 Latest Revision: 20191102

20231215

10.1038/sj.jhh.1000430

9205935