老年高血压合并体位性低血压患者靶器官损害及最佳血压水平的研究

目的研究老年高血压合并体位性低血压患者靶器官损害情况及最佳的血压水平。方法选取2010年3月~7月进行体检的长期居住广州的军队离退休老干部中的原发性高血压患者849例,对其进行健康问卷调查,并测量卧位及立位后0、2 min血压和心率,对体位性低血压的发生率进行统计,同时分析体位性低血压组与非体位性低血压组患者靶器官损害情况。结果老年高血压患者体位性低血压的发生率随着高血压分级升高而增加;体位性低血压组的左室肥厚及微量白蛋白尿的发生率均高于非体位性低血压组;血压控制在130~139/70~79 mm Hg时体位性低血压的发生率最低。结论老年高血压合并体位性低血压发生靶器官损害的危险较高,130~139/70~79 mm Hg可能是老年高血压合并体位性低血压患者最佳的血压范围。     

Management of Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension

The burden of orthostatic hypotension (OH) on public health is a universally recognized enigmatic clinical condition that is associated with significant increases on morbidity and mortality rates, and can take a major toll on one's quality of life. Orthostatic hypotension is predictive of vascular deaths from acute myocardial infarction, strokes in the middle aged population, and increases mortality rates when associated with diabetes, hypertension, Parkinson's disease, and patients receiving renal dialysis. The consensus definition for OH is a fall in systolic blood pressure of at least 20 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure of at least 10 mm Hg within 3 minutes of quiet standing. Because neurogenic OH is often accompanied by supine hypertension, the treatment program should aim toward minimizing OH and the potential fall injuries related to cerebral hypoperfusion without exacerbating nocturnal hypertension that may lead to excessive cardiovascular complications.     

缬沙坦／氨氯地平和依贝沙坦／双氢克尿噻联合治疗老龄高血压疗效的研究

目的 比较缬沙坦/氨氯地平和依贝沙坦/双氢克尿噻两种联合用药对老龄高血压患者的疗效.方法 经过4周药物洗刷期,94例老龄高血压患者被随机分为缬沙坦160 mg/氨氯地平5 mg和依贝沙坦300 mg/双氢克尿噻12.5 mg两组,治疗周期为24周,对于药物治疗4周后无反应的患者氨氯地平或双氧克尿噻加倍剂量给药.观察期间测定卧位、坐位及立位血压（收缩压和舒张压）和心率,治疗结束后并测定尿酸和血钾数值.结果 用药后两组各自的血压值均明显下降（氨氯地平和双氢克尿噻剂量加倍者分别为9例和11例）,但两组间的比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）,从卧位到站立血压下降在依贝沙坦/双氢克尿噻组中比缬沙坦/氨氯地平组更明显,分别为-17.2/-9.1 mmHg和-10.1/-1.9mmHg（SBP：t=2.14,P＜0.05,DBP：t=3.11,P＜0.01）.在依贝沙坦/双氢克尿噻组中,相对治疗前血钾水平明显降低（-0.4 mmol/L,t=2.33,P＜0.05）,尿酸明显升高（＋29.7 μmol/L,t=2.54,P＜0.05）.结论 两组药物均能显著降低老龄患者的高血压状况,但缬沙坦/氨氯地平组在对由体位改变引起的血压变化情况影响较小,且有较少的代谢副作用.     

The degree and timing of orthostatic blood pressure changes in relation to falls in nursing home residents

BACKGROUND: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is traditionally defined as a decline in systolic or diastolic blood pressure of >20 or >10 mm Hg, respectively, after 1 or 3 minutes of upright posture. OH is common in the elderly, but has not been consistently demonstrated to be an independent risk factor for falls in nursing home residents. Previous studies have used the standard definition of OH in assessing fall risk. No study has sought to determine if the timing of postural changes in blood pressure adds prognostic value; if changes in systolic, diastolic, or mean blood pressure are equivalent in predicting subsequent falls; and what degree of decline in blood pressure has the best predictive value. OBJECTIVE: We sought to define the timing and degree of orthostatic changes in blood pressure in a cohort of elderly nursing home residents during active standing and to explore the relationship to subsequent falls to test the hypothesis that orthostatic changes in blood pressure with noninvasive beat-to-beat technology would predict falls in nursing home residents better than the standard definition of OH. METHODS: One hundred eleven elderly (88 +/- 7 years) residents of a long-term care facility had measurement of orthostatic blood pressure changes during active standing for up to 3 minutes with a real-time continuous, noninvasive beat-to-beat blood pressure device. Falls were determined prospectively over a median follow-up period of 270 days (range, 8-657 days). The degree and timing of declines in systolic, diastolic, or mean blood pressure and their association with subsequent falls was determined using a time-to-event analysis. RESULTS: Forty-six subjects (41%) fell. The standard definition of OH was not predictive of subsequent falls (hazard ratio 1.03 at 1 minute and 1.32 at 3 minutes, P = not significant). Other measures of orthostatic blood pressure changes were also not associated with a significant increase in risk for subsequent falls, including declines in blood pressure within the first minute of standing. CONCLUSION: The standard definition of OH was not an independent predictor of falls in frail nursing home residents. A one-time measure for the presence of postural hypotension using beat-to-beat tonometry was not predictive of fall risk. The timing and degree of orthostatic changes in blood pressure does not significantly enhance risk prediction for falls.     

Orthostatic Hypotension and Orthostatic Intolerance Symptoms in Geriatric Rehabilitation Inpatients,RESORT

ObjectivesOrthostatic hypotension (OH) and orthostatic intolerance symptoms are common in older community-dwelling adults and are associated with reduced quality of life and detrimental health outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, co-occurrence and determinants of OH and orthostatic intolerance symptoms in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients.DesignObservational, longitudinal cohort, “REStORing the health of acutely unwell adulTs” (RESORT).Setting and ParticipantsGeriatric rehabilitation inpatients (n = 1505) of a tertiary teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia.MethodsOH was defined as a drop in systolic blood pressure by ≥20 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure by ≥10 mm Hg within three 3 of moving from supine to a standing or sitting position. Symptoms were recorded following the 3 minutes. Determinants included sociodemographics, reason for admission, cognitive health, nutritional status, physical performance, frailty, morbidity, medication use, length of stay (LOS), and number of geriatric conditions. Independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests or χ² tests were used to analyze differences between inpatients with and without OH and symptoms. Logistic regression analyses were used to ascertain the determinants.ResultsOH and orthostatic intolerance symptoms were prevalent in 19.8% (standing: 21.4%, sitting: 18.2%) and 22.6% (standing: 25.0%, sitting: 20.2%) of inpatients, respectively. Symptoms were reported by 32.8% of inpatients with OH and 20.1% without OH. Higher number of comorbidities and geriatric conditions, low functional independence, and longer LOS were determinants of OH. Female gender, higher number of morbidities and geriatric conditions, low functional independence, depression risk, poor physical performance, musculoskeletal and “other” reasons for admission, and long LOS during geriatric rehabilitation were determinants of symptoms.Conclusions and ImplicationsOH and orthostatic intolerance symptoms occur in one-fifth of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients, however, the co-occurrence is low and determinants differ. Poorer health in patients with orthostatic intolerance symptoms highlights the need to assess symptoms in clinical practice, independent of an OH diagnosis.     

Hemodynamic Mechanisms Underlying Initial Orthostatic Hypotension,Delayed Recovery and Orthostatic Hypotension

Objectives

Continuous noninvasive blood pressure (BP) measurement enables us to observe rapid changes in BP and to study underlying hemodynamic mechanisms. This study aimed to gain insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying short-term orthostatic BP recovery patterns in a real-world clinical setting with (pre)syncope patients.

Postural changes in blood pressure and pulse rate among black adolescents and white adolescents: the Minneapolis Children's Blood Pressure Study

Because studies have suggested a possible relation between vascular responsiveness to postural changes and risk of subsequent myocardial infarction, the reactivity of blood pressure and pulse rate to change from supine to standing positions was examined in 158 black males, 144 black females, 342 white males, and 272 white females aged 14-16 years. The study was part of the Minneapolis Children's Blood Pressure Study and was conducted during October to December 1985. Two blood pressure readings and one pulse reading were taken after five minutes of supine rest, immediately upon standing, and five minutes after standing. After adjustment for body mass index, mean systolic blood pressure decreased, and fourth- and fifth-phase diastolic blood pressures and pulse rate increased from supine to standing positions in all race and sex groups. Black males had significantly larger changes in systolic pressure than did white males (-5.9 vs. -4.1 mmHg), and males had significantly larger changes in fourth- and fifth-phase diastolic pressures compared with females of the same race (fourth-phase diastolic pressure, 8.0 vs. 4.1 mmHg for blacks and 10.0 vs. 4.8 mmHg for whites). Fifth-phase diastolic pressure increased more than did fourth-phase diastolic pressure in all groups. No race or sex differences were seen for pulse changes. For all race-sex groups, decreases in systolic pressure were positively correlated with initial levels of supine systolic pressure, whereas increases in fourth- and fifth-phase diastolic pressures were negatively correlated with corresponding initial levels. Measurement of postural changes may provide a clinically simple and reproducible way of testing for abnormalities in blood pressure and may better discriminate those at high risk of hypertension and its cardiovascular complications than would the commonly used single-seated blood pressure measurement.     

Diagnostic management of orthostatic intolerance in the workplace

OBJECTIVE: Orthostatic intolerance (OI) is a syndrome that is characterised by headache, concentration difficulties, palpitation of the heart, dizziness associated with postural tachycardia and plasma norepinephrine concentrations that are disproportionately high when the sufferer is in the upright posture. In contrast to other forms of orthostatic dysregulation - orthostatic hypotension (OH) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) - OI, hitherto, could be diagnosed only by a tilt table examination, with high expenditure. In this paper we examine the reliability and validity of a questionnaire as a screening instrument for OI. METHODS: We studied 138 young men (mean age 21.6 years) who were undergoing military service. After a medical check and filling in the questionnaire, the participants underwent a tilt table test including monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate and plasma catecholamines, in the supine position and during 30 min of standing. The questionnaire consisted of ten items registering presence and frequency of typical OI symptoms. RESULTS: Probands (104) showed normal tilt table test results. OI was diagnosed in 14 probands, OH in 6 and POTS in 14. The OI participants scored significantly higher in the questionnaire than the healthy subjects did: the mean score of the OI group was 22.6, the healthy participants had a mean score of 3.9. Participants with POTS had a mean score of 13.5 and subjects with OH had a mean score of 17.0. Reliability analysis showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.888. Validity analysis showed that 93.5% of the probands with any kind of orthostatic dysregulation can be detected. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to establish a short questionnaire as a reliable and valid screening instrument for OI. Usage of this questionnaire can simplify enormously the diagnostic management of patients with suspected OI.     

Oat consumption does not affect resting casual and ambulatory 24-h arterial blood pressure in men with high-normal blood pressure to stage I hypertension

The results of epidemiologic studies suggest that increased intake of dietary fiber is associated with lower levels of arterial blood pressure (BP). However, there is little information available addressing the possibility that increased oat consumption may reduce arterial BP in individuals with elevated arterial BP. To test this hypothesis, middle-aged and older men (n = 36; body mass index, 25-35 kg/m(2); aged 50-75 y) with elevated BP (systolic BP 130-159 mmHg and/or diastolic BP 85-99 mmHg) were randomly assigned to consume an additional 14 g/d of dietary fiber in the form of oat (5.5 g beta-glucan, n = 18) or wheat cereals (no beta-glucan, n = 18) for 12 wk. Casual resting arterial BP was measured at baseline and after 4, 8 and 12 wk of intervention. The 24-h ambulatory arterial BP was measured at baseline and after 12 wk of intervention. There were no differences in casual resting or 24-h ambulatory BP at baseline in the two groups. Casual systolic BP (SBP) did not change as a result of the 12-wk intervention in the oat (138 plus minus 2 vs. 135 plus minus 3 mmHg) or wheat (142 plus minus 2 vs. 140 plus minus 3 mmHg) groups, respectively (all P > 0.05). Casual diastolic BP (DBP) also did not change in the oat (89 plus minus 2 vs. 88 plus minus 2 mmHg) or wheat (90 plus minus 2 vs. 91 plus minus 2 mmHg) group during this period (all P > 0.05). Further, 24-h, daytime and nighttime SBP and DBP did not decrease with the intervention. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that any cardioprotective benefit of regular oat consumption may not be conferred via an arterial BP-lowering effect.     

Resolution of vital sign instability: an objective measure of medical stability in anorexia nervosa.

PURPOSE: To determine the amount of time necessary for stabilization of blood pressure and heart rate in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and the percentage of ideal body weight (IBW) at which this occurs. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 36 adolescent patients (33 F, 3 M) with AN, restricting type (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth edition [DSM-IV] criteria), admitted to a specialized eating disorders unit for nutritional rehabilitation between October 1996 and August 1998. Mean age was 16.5 +/- 2.5 years, range 12-23 years. Each morning, pulse and blood pressure were measured supine and after standing for 2 minutes using an automated blood pressure/pulse measuring device (Dynamap). Orthostasis was defined as a drop in systolic blood pressure > 20 mm Hg with or without a drop in diastolic blood pressure > 10 mm Hg or an increase in heart rate >20 bpm on standing. Time of resolution of orthostasis was defined as the day after which the patient was no longer orthostatic for 48 hours. RESULTS: On admission mean pulse rate was 54.4 +/- 14.8 bpm (range 38-78) and mean pulse rate slowly increased to 70 bpm by Day 12 of hospitalization. On admission, 60% of patients had orthostatic pulse changes and with refeeding, this number increased to 85% by Day 4 of admission. The mean number of days until patients were no longer orthostatic was 21.6 +/- 11.1 days and resolution of orthostasis occurred when subjects reached 80.1 +/- 5.7% of IBW. Orthostatic pulse changes were more sensitive indicators of hemodynamic instability than orthostatic blood pressure changes and took longer to resolve. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that of patients with AN, the majority have orthostatic pulse changes on admission. Normalization of orthostatic pulse changes was achieved after approximately 3 weeks of nutritional rehabilitation when subjects reached 80% of their IBW. Resolution of orthostasis can be used as one of the objective measures to determine medical stability and readiness for discharge to an alternate level of care.     

Randomised, controlled, cross-over trial of soy protein with isoflavones on blood pressure and arterial function in hypertensive subjects

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of dietary soy/isoflavones on 24 hr blood pressure profiles and arterial function [systemic arterial compliance (SAC), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and brachial arterial flow mediated vasodilation (FMD)] compared to non legume-based plant protein without isoflavones, in hypertensive subjects. DESIGN: In a 6 month double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over trial, 41 hypertensive subjects (26 men, 15 postmenopausal women), 30-75 years, received soy cereal (40 g soy protein, 118 mg isoflavones) and gluten placebo cereal, each for 3 months. RESULTS: Thirty-eight subjects completed protocol with results expressed as mean or mean change (+/-SEM) with each intervention. Soy increased urinary isoflavones (daidzein: 8-fold; genistein: 8-fold; equol: 9-fold; ODMA: 18-fold) with no change during gluten placebo. There was no difference in the change in individual 24 hr ambulatory BP parameters (SBP: 2 +/- 2 vs -1 +/- 1 mmHg, p = 0.21; DBP: 1 +/- 1 vs -1 +/- 1 mmHg, p = 0.06) central BP (cSBP: -4 +/- 2 vs 0 +/- 2 mmHg, p = 0.2) or the change in arterial function (FMD: 0.3 +/- 0.5 vs -0.2 +/- 0.5%, p = NS; SAC: 0.02 +/- 0.02 vs -0.02 +/- 0.02 U/mmHg, p = NS; PWV central: -0.2 +/- 0.2 vs 0.0 +/- 0.2 m/sec, p = NS; PWV peripheral: 0.01 +/- 0.3 vs -0.4 +/- 0.4 m/sec, p = NS) noted between interventions. Analysis of the area under curve of 24 hr BP outputs demonstrated that soy protein compared to gluten protein resulted in higher 24 hr systolic BP by 2.3 mmHg (p = 0.003), a higher daytime systolic BP by 3.4 mmHg (p = 0.0002) and a higher daytime diastolic BP by 1.4 mmHg (p = 0.008). Overall 24 hr diastolic BP, night systolic BP and night diastolic BP were not significantly different between groups. Furthermore, soy protein compared to gluten protein resulted in higher 24 hr heart rates by 3.5 bpm (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive subjects, compared to gluten placebo, soy dietary supplementation containing isoflavones had no effect on arterial function, on average 24 hr ambulatory blood pressure parameters or central blood pressure in men and women with hypertension. Area under the curve of 24 hr profiles demonstrated that daytime BP was higher after soy compared to gluten.     

Malnutrition and Malnutrition Risk Can Be Associated with Systolic Orthostatic Hypotension in Older Adults

Background

Malnutrition and orthostatic hypotension(OH) are the two important geriatric syndromes, which have similar negative outcomes such as falls. The aim of the study is to detect whether there is any relation between malnutrition and OH.

Methods

862 geriatric patients, who had undergone comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA),were included in the retrospective study. OH was identified as 20 and/or 10 mmHg dropped for systolic and/or diastolic blood pressures with the active standing test when patients got up from supine to standing position. Nutritional status was checked according to Mini Nutritional Assesment-Short Form(MNASF).

Results

The mean age of the patients was 74±8.05, and %66.3 of them were female. The prevalence of malnutrition, malnutrition-risk and OH were detected as 7.7%, 26.9 % and 21.2%, respectively. When OH, systolic OH, diastolic OH and control group were compared with CGA parameters and the effects of age and gender were removed, the frequency of falls and Timed-Up and Go Test were higher, activity daily living indexes and TINETTI-Balance scores were lower in systolic OH than without it (p<0.05). Systolic OH was more frequent in malnutrition-risk and malnutrition group than control group (p<0.002 and p<0.05, respectively). Diastolic OH was not associated with nutritional status (p>0.05).OH was only higher in malnutrition-risk group than robust (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that not only malnutrition but also malnutrition-risk may be associated with systolic OH, which leads to many negative outcomes in older adults. Because malnutrition/malnutrition risk is preventable and reversible, nutritional status should be checked during the evaluation of OH patients.

     

Opposing effects of particle pollution, ozone, and ambient temperature on arterial blood pressure

Background: Diabetes increases the risk of hypertension and orthostatic hypotension and raises the risk of cardiovascular death during heat waves and high pollution episodes.Objective: We examined whether short-term exposures to air pollution (fine particles, ozone) and heat resulted in perturbation of arterial blood pressure (BP) in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods: We conducted a panel study in 70 subjects with T2DM, measuring BP by automated oscillometric sphygmomanometer and pulse wave analysis every 2 weeks on up to five occasions (355 repeated measures). Hourly central site measurements of fine particles, ozone, and meteorology were conducted. We applied linear mixed models with random participant intercepts to investigate the association of fine particles, ozone, and ambient temperature with systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP in a multipollutant model, controlling for season, meteorological variables, and subject characteristics.Results: An interquartile increase in ambient fine particle mass [particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤ 2.5 μm (PM_2.5)] and in the traffic component black carbon in the previous 5 days (3.54 and 0.25 μg/m³, respectively) predicted increases of 1.4 mmHg [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0, 2.9 mmHg] and 2.2 mmHg (95% CI: 0.4, 4.0 mmHg) in systolic BP (SBP) at the population geometric mean, respectively. In contrast, an interquartile increase in the 5-day mean of ozone (13.3 ppb) was associated with a 5.2 mmHg (95% CI: –8.6, –1.8 mmHg) decrease in SBP. Higher temperatures were associated with a marginal decrease in BP.Conclusions: In subjects with T2DM, PM was associated with increased BP, and ozone was associated with decreased BP. These effects may be clinically important in patients with already compromised autoregulatory function.     

Delayed Blood Pressure Recovery After Standing Independently Predicts Fracture in Community-Dwelling Older People

ObjectivesOrthostatic hypotension, characterized by delayed blood pressure (BP) recovery after standing, is a risk factor for falls but the longitudinal relationship with fracture is not yet known. The aim of this study was to examine the prospective risk of fracture associated with delayed BP recovery.DesignLongitudinal study with 8-year follow-up.Setting and ParticipantsMore than 3000 (54% female) community-dwelling people aged ≥50 years from a large longitudinal study on ageing.MethodsOrthostatic BP was measured using a finometer when standing from lying. Delayed BP recovery was defined as systolic BP ≥20 mm Hg lower and/or diastolic BP ≥10 mm Hg from the baseline value at 30, 60, and 90 seconds after standing. Participants with a fracture reported at any of waves 2 to 5 were defined as having incident fracture. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for the association between delayed BP recovery and incident fracture.ResultsSeven percent (212/3117) of participants sustained a fracture during follow-up. Delayed BP recovery at 30 seconds was a significant predictor of any fracture [OR 1.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28-2.53] and hip fracture (OR 4.44, 95% CI 2.03-9.71) in fully adjusted models. Delayed BP recovery at 30 seconds did not predict wrist or vertebral fracture. Delayed BP recovery at 60 seconds also predicted any fracture (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.19-2.54) and hip fracture (OR 4.66, 95% CI 2.12-10.26) whereas delayed BP recovery at 90 seconds predicted any (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.38-2.87), wrist (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.19-2.95), and hip fracture (OR 3.39, 95% CI 1.45-7.93) in fully adjusted models.Conclusionand Implications: Delayed BP recovery independently predicts fracture in community-dwelling older people, is potentially modifiable, and can be measured in an ambulatory setting. Because of the morbidity and mortality associated with fractures, identification of such risk factors is crucial in order to inform preventative strategies.     

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Japanese rural communities]

BACKGROUND: In Japan, a national survey indicated that only 7% of hypertensive patients had a blood pressure less than 140/90 mmHg. There have been no reports of studies investigating all of the prevalence of hypertension, the percentage of subjects who are aware of hypertension, the percentage being treated, and the percentage that are well-controlled (awareness, treatment and control, respectively) among hypertensives in the Japanese general population. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of hypertension, and awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among hypertensives in a Japanese rural population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional analysis of base-line data of the Jichi Medical School Cohort Study. SETTING: Twelve rural communities is 8 prefectures in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling people who participated in the health examination program in 1992-1995. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood pressure (BP) measured once in the sitting position after a 5-minute rest using oscillometric automatic BP monitors (BP203RV-II; Nippon Colin, Japan), and history of hypertension assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: We analyzed data from 11,302 subjects (4,415 men and 6,887 women). The mean (standard deviation) age was 55(12) years for men and 55(11) years for women. Mean systolic BP and diastolic BP levels were, respectively, 131(21) mmHg and 79(12) mmHg for men and 128(21) mmHg and 76(12) mmHg for women. Prevalence of hypertension (systolic BP > or = 140 mmHg or diastolic BP > or = 90 mmHg or on antihypertensive medication) was 37% for men and 33% for women. Percentages for awareness (on medication or present past history), treatment and control (both systolic BP < 140 mmHg and diastolic BP < 90 mmHg) were, respectively, 39%, 27% and 10% for men and 46%, 38% and 13% for women. CONCLUSIONS: About one third of the study popUlation were hypertensive, and awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among the hypertensives were 43%, 34% and 12%, respectively. Less than half of the hypertensives were well-controlled even when measurement bias was considered. In the rural Japanese population, improvements are required with regard to awareness, treatment and control of hypertension.     

Orthostatic Hypotension is a Risk Factor for Falls Among Older Adults: 3-Year Follow-Up

ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) and the association of OH with the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults with a previous fall.DesignLongitudinal study.Setting and ParticipantsThe subjects (n = 561) were participants in fall prevention conducted in western Finland.MethodsBlood pressure (BP) was measured in supine position and at 30 seconds and 3 minutes after standing. The participants were divided according to the consensus definition to an OH group (OHG) and a non-OH group (non-OHG). Falls were recorded by fall diaries during 12 months. Falls requiring treatment were gathered from health center and hospital registers during 12 and 36 months.ResultsThe prevalence of OH was 23.4% (30 seconds) and 7.3% (3 minutes). The 30-second measurement showed that the incidence of falls and that of falls requiring treatment were significantly higher in OHG compared with non-OHG during 12 months. After adjustments, the incidence of falls remained higher in all 5 adjusted models whereas that of falls requiring treatment remained higher only after adjustment for functional balance. The 3-minute measurement showed that the incidence of falls was higher in OHG compared with non-OHG during 12 months and remained higher after adjustments for functional balance and for age and functional balance. During the 36-month follow-up, OH measured at 30 seconds or 3 minutes after standing was not associated with the occurrence of falls leading to treatment.Conclusions and ImplicationsOH at 30 seconds or 3 minutes after standing is associated with a greater risk for falling within 12 months in older adults. The 30-second blood pressure measurement is more reliable to detect the risk than the 3-minute measurement. The results support the usability of 30-second measurement in determining OH and the risk for falling among older persons.     

住院老年患者体位性低血压的临床研究

目的 观察老年住院患者体位性低血压(PH)的临床特征.方法 测量住院患者的卧立位血压,分析发生PH的临床特征,以及住院期间的临床事件发生情况.结果 (1)老年住院患者中PH发生率为24.11%;(2)伴发高血压病和糖尿病(P＜0.05和P＜0.01)),尤其是基础收缩压和舒张压(P＜0.001)较高的患者,发生收缩压型PH的比率较高;而服用利尿剂(P＜0.05)和钙拮抗剂(P＜0.01)的患者在舒张压型PH患者中比率较高;(3)PH组的患者收缩压下降(31±25)mmHg,舒张压下降(11±15)mmHg;(4)发生头晕或眩晕、晕厥或晕厥先兆、心绞痛或新发心肌梗死、新发脑卒中等临床事件的比率,PH组要明显多于无PH组(P＜0.01).结论 PH是老年住院患者中的一种常见临床现象,容易引起跌倒、心绞痛、脑卒中等,应该重视并预防.

Abstract：

Objective To observe the clinical feature of postural hypotension (PH) in in-hospital elderly patients. Methods Measure the supine and orthostatic blood pressure in patients were measured, and the clinical characteristics of PH and clinical incident during hospital stay were analyzed. Results (1)The PH incidence in elderly patients was 24. 11% ; (2)The incidence of systolic blood pressure PH was higher in patients with concomitant hypertension and diabetes ( P ＜ 0.05 & P ＜0.01), especially in those with relatively higher basal systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure ( P ＜ 0.001); the percentage of patients taking diuretics ( P ＜ 0. 05) and calcium antagonists ( P ＜ 0. 01) were relatively higher in patients with diastolic blood pressure PH; (3)Systolic blood pressure in patients from the group with PH lowered (31 ±25) mmHg, while diastolic blood pressure lowered (11 ±15) mmHg; (4)The incidence of clinical events, including dizziness or vertigo, syncope or pre-syncope, angina pectoris or new-onset myocardial infarction, and new-onset stroke, in PH patients was distinctly higher than that in patients from the group without PH ( P ＜0. 01).Conclusion PH is a kind of common clinical manifestations in elderly patients, which tends to induce tumbling, angina pectoris, stroke, etc, and ought to be paid great attention to and taken preventive measures.     

Relationship of urinary sodium/potassium excretion and calcium intake to blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension among older Chinese vegetarians

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of dietary sodium and potassium, as reflected by the urinary sodium/potassium excretion, and calcium intake with blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension among older Chinese vegetarians in Hong Kong. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Research clinic in a teaching hospital in Hong Kong. SUBJECTS: A total of 111 ambulatory vegetarians over the age of 55 were recruited from members of religious organizations or old age hostels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hypertension was defined as supine blood pressure >140/90 mmHg or a history of hypertension. Dietary sodium, potassium and calcium intakes were assessed by 24 h recall method or fasting urinary sodium or potassium/creatinine ratios. RESULTS: Seventy-one subjects (64%) were found to have hypertension. Compared with normotensive subjects, hypertensive subjects had lower calcium intake (411+/-s.d. 324 vs 589+/-428 mg, P=0.04), but higher urinary sodium/creatinine ratio (32.6+/-19.3 vs 21.0+/-12.4, P=0.00) and sodium/potassium ratio (4.7+/-2.8 vs 3.4+/-2.3, P=0.02). Among 88 subjects not taking diuretics or antihypertensive drugs, systolic blood pressure was related to calcium intake (r=-0.40), urinary sodium/creatinine ratio (r=0.39), urinary sodium/potassium ratio (r=0.30) and age (r=0.23). Diastolic blood pressure was related to urinary sodium/creatinine (r=0.29). Twenty-three subjects with high urinary sodium/potassium and low calcium intake and 16 subjects with low urinary sodium/potassium ratio and high calcium intake differed markedly with respect to systolic blood pressure (159+/-26 vs 130+/-15 mmHg) and prevalence of hypertension (78% vs 25%). CONCLUSIONS: Older Chinese vegetarians are predisposed to hypertension because of their sodium-rich but calcium-deficient diets.     

A cross-sectional study of vitamin C intake and blood pressure in the elderly.

Data collected as part of a study designed to examine the nutritional status of non-institutionalized elderly individuals, ages 60-100 years, residing in the Boston area were used to investigate the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and vitamin C intake reported by three-day diet records. Four hundred and ten subjects not taking antihypertensive medications were grouped into 5 categories of vitamin C intake: < 60, 60-119, 120-179, 180-239, > or = 240 mg/day. Relative differences in systolic and diastolic BP between subjects consuming > or = 240 mg/day compared to those consuming < 60 mg/day were -6.9% (p < 0.05) and -6.6% (p < 0.05), respectively. The prevalence of elevated BP (systolic > or = 160 mmHg or diastolic > or = 100 mmHg) was approximately 50% lower (p < 0.05) across this range of vitamin C intake. Adjustment of these associations for age, sex, body mass, smoking, dietary sodium:potassium ratio, and other dietary factors did little to alter the relationship between vitamin C and BP. These results lend support to the hypothesis that vitamin C and BP are related, but further research is required to test whether the relationship is causal.     

Calcium channel blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: effectiveness in combination with diuretics or beta-blockers for treating hypertension

This retrospective database analysis compared the effectiveness of dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (DHPs), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) added to diuretics or beta-blockers. Adults with hypertension treated with diuretic or beta-blocker monotherapy between 1998 and 2001 were identified from a large US electronic medical records database of primary care practices. Patients were required to have a baseline blood pressure (BP) > or =140/90 mmHg (> or =130/80 mmHg for diabetes mellitus) and recorded BP measurements within 6 months before and 1-12 months following index date. Patients were matched 1:1:1 by propensity score to correct for differences in baseline characteristics. 1875 patients met study criteria and 660 (220 in each cohort) were matched based on propensity scores. Matched cohorts had no significant differences in baseline characteristics. Mean changes in systolic/diastolic BP were -17.5/-8.8, -15.7/-6.3, and -13.0/-8.0 mmHg with DHPs, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs, respectively. Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High BP 6/7 goal attainment for each regimen was 47.3%, 40.0%, and 32.2%, respectively. DHPs, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs improved BP when added to patients' beta-blocker or diuretic therapy. The greatest benefits were observed with DHPs, followed by ACE inhibitors, then ARBs.