Prevalence of Orthostatic Hypertension in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract EN

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/m2; 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.