Prevalence of Orthostatic Hypertension in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Background. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of orthostatic hypertension (OHT) in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and its relation to metabolic and echocardiographic parameters. Methods. This was an analytical cross-sectional study in 97 patients normotensive or hypertensive. OHT was defined as a ≥10 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure after four minutes in the standing position. Results. The prevalence of OHT was 20.6%. The mean body mass index was significantly higher in patients with OHT than in those without it (29.80 ± 4.10 versus 27.51 ± 3.98 kg/m(2); P = 0.026). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for other metabolic parameters. Among the 68 patients who had an echocardiographic examination 27% of those with OHT had an increase in their left atrial volume index (LAVi) compared with 75% of those who did not have OHT (P = 0.004). The mean LAVi of patients with OHT was significantly lower than that of those without OHT (26.27 ± 6.37 versus 32.65 ± 7.54, resp.; P = 0.011). Conclusion. We found a high prevalence of orthostatic hypertension and a lower left atrial volume indexed in the patients with orthostatic hypertension.