Prevalencia y relaciones de la hipotensión ortostática en los pacientes de 80 o más años de edad de una unidad de atención primaria

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in patients 80 years old and over attending a primary care unit. To relate OH to the most prevalent pathologies and to the most used drugs. DESIGN: Transversal observational study. LOCATION: Primary care unit, Santiago de Compostela. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty one patients 80 years old or over representative of a primary care unit were recruited. Ten patients were excluded. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Blood pressure was measured in decubitus and later in erect position first immediately after standing and then after 3 minutes. Diagnoses and active treatments were reviewed in the electronic clinical history and through an interview with the patient and caregiver. RESULTS: In 26.76% of patients the systolic blood pressure fell by 20 mmHg or more and/or the diastolic blood pressure fell by 10 mmHg in the instant following the postural shift. In 16.90% of patients the drop persisted after 3 minutes of standing from decubitus position. None of the patients was diagnosed with OH. The highest prevalence ratio was observed for diabetes mellitus (1.6; P = .412), not existing differences for arterial hypertension (P = .881). OH related in a statistically meaningful way to the use of renin angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitors (OR: 8.174, CI95%: 1.182-56.536); P = .033] and benzodiazepines (OR: 5.938, CI95%: 1.242-28.397; P = .026)]. CONCLUSION: OH had a prevalence of 16.90% among the elderly patients who had a consultation. Its connection with some drugs (renin angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitors and benzodiazepines) must be considered.