Risk Factors for Orthostatic Hypotension: Differences Between Elderly Men and Women

Authors

Andrea S. Méndez
Jesus D. Melgarejo, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Luis J. Mena
Carlos A. Chávez
Alicex C. González
José Boggia
Joseph D. Terwilliger
Joseph H. Lee
Gladys E. Maestre, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-11-2018

Abstract

Background: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) occurs when mechanisms regulating blood pressure (BP) levels after standing-up are altered. It is unclear how prevalence and risk factors for OH are different between sexes. We aimed to investigate sex differences in prevalence and risk factors for OH elderly individuals.

Methods: We included 882 participants from Maracaibo Aging Study. OH was a sustained reduction of ≥20 mm Hg in systolic BP, ≥10 mm Hg in diastolic BP, or both, after 3 minutes of changing positions from supine to standing. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the relationships among risk factors for OH in men and women considering interaction sex-term and stratified by sex.

Results: The mean age was 66.7 ± 8.5 years, being similar by sex. Women and men 55-74 years had similar prevalence of OH+ (18.5% vs. 20.9%, respectively). After 75 years, the proportion of women with OH+ was lower than men (11% vs. 30%, respectively). Hypertension, specifically systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg, and high pulse pressure (PP) were related with OH+ accounted by interaction sex-term, while diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg, antihypertensive treatment, body mass index (BMI), diabetes mellitus and age were not. Systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg increases the risk of OH only among women, while BMI showed an inverse association in both sexes.

Conclusions: Although the prevalence of OH is similar in both sexes, there are different risk factors associated by sex. Systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg was associated with increased risk of OH only with women while BMI was a protective factor for OH in men and women.

Comments

© American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Recommended Citation

Méndez, A. S., Melgarejo, J. D., Mena, L. J., Chávez, C. A., González, A. C., Boggia, J., Terwilliger, J. D., Lee, J. H., & Maestre, G. E. (2018). Risk Factors for Orthostatic Hypotension: Differences Between Elderly Men and Women. American journal of hypertension, 31(7), 797–803. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpy050

Publication Title

American journal of hypertension

DOI

10.1093/ajh/hpy050

Academic Level

faculty

Mentor/PI Department

Neuroscience