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Prevalence of orthostatic hypotension in a series of elderly Mexican institutionalized patients
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Abstract
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional prospective study of intern patients at several Mexican elderly assistance institutions. We carried out a history and took blood pressure readings in a seated position, immediately after standing up, and again after 3 min of standing up.
Results: We evaluated 132 patients, mean age 82.3 ± 9.5 years, 74.1% of them female. Thirty-nine (29.3%) subjects had OH. They had a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s disease, depression and alcoholism. Their Minimental result was 15.45 ± 7.2 vs 16.12 ± 7.9 (p = 0.6) among those without OH, and their quality of life (Minnesota scale) was 12.1 ± 7.3 vs 9.15 ± 7.05 (p = 0.03). They used more ACEI, digoxin and levothyroxin. Hypertension and alcoholism showed respectively a RR of 2.6 (95% CI 0.9–7.6, p = 0.06) and 3.18 (95% CI 0.96–10.48, p = 0.05) to develop OH.
Conclusions: OH was present in 29.3% of the studied population. A third of them had hypertension. The use of different medications does not solely explain OH, so it is necessary to look for different associations. Among those, chronic alcoholism stands out. OH is associated with a poorer quality of life and cognitive performance. OH is asymptomatic in most cases. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 3: 282–288)
Abstract
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional prospective study of intern patients at several Mexican elderly assistance institutions. We carried out a history and took blood pressure readings in a seated position, immediately after standing up, and again after 3 min of standing up.
Results: We evaluated 132 patients, mean age 82.3 ± 9.5 years, 74.1% of them female. Thirty-nine (29.3%) subjects had OH. They had a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s disease, depression and alcoholism. Their Minimental result was 15.45 ± 7.2 vs 16.12 ± 7.9 (p = 0.6) among those without OH, and their quality of life (Minnesota scale) was 12.1 ± 7.3 vs 9.15 ± 7.05 (p = 0.03). They used more ACEI, digoxin and levothyroxin. Hypertension and alcoholism showed respectively a RR of 2.6 (95% CI 0.9–7.6, p = 0.06) and 3.18 (95% CI 0.96–10.48, p = 0.05) to develop OH.
Conclusions: OH was present in 29.3% of the studied population. A third of them had hypertension. The use of different medications does not solely explain OH, so it is necessary to look for different associations. Among those, chronic alcoholism stands out. OH is associated with a poorer quality of life and cognitive performance. OH is asymptomatic in most cases. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 3: 282–288)
Keywords
orthostatic hypotension; elderly; alcoholism; Parkinson; autonomic dysfunction


Title
Prevalence of orthostatic hypotension in a series of elderly Mexican institutionalized patients
Journal
Issue
Pages
282-288
Published online
2011-06-09
Page views
1136
Article views/downloads
985
Bibliographic record
Cardiol J 2011;18(3):282-288.
Keywords
orthostatic hypotension
elderly
alcoholism
Parkinson
autonomic dysfunction
Authors
Enrique Asensio L.
Andrea Aguilera C.
María de los Angeles Corral C.
Karla L. Mendoza C.
Pablo E. Nava D.
Ana Lilia Rendón C.
Liliana Villegas C.
Juan Manuel Fraga S.
Enrique Negrete E.
Lilia Castillo M.
Arturo Orea T.