Orthostatic hypotension, standing or sitting?

Orthostatic hypotension is frequently seen in elderly people and defined by a drop in blood pressure after standing up. However, physicians sometimes decide to measure the blood pressure from supine to sitting because of mobility problems. Furthermore, automated sphygmomanometers are commonly used in daily practice, although interval blood pressure measurements may be less accurate to diagnose orthostatic hypotension. We will investigate if postural change from supine to standing versus supine to sitting or continuous versus interval blood pressure measurements,measurements changes the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension, blood pressure and cardiac output. Main outcomes are an absolute difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (in standing versus sitting postural change), prevalence of orthostatic hypotension, orthostatic complaints, and cardiac output.

The aim of this observational study is to investigate a possible difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cardiac output, and prevalence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) after changing positions from supine to standing versus supine to sitting. Secondary, we aim to investigate a possible difference in prevalence of OH between continuous versus interval blood pressure measurement.

After scheduled appointment: BP measurements.

Blood pressure measurements (BP) on both arms of the patient with two devices: continuous blood pressure measurements by the finometer, interval blood pressure measurements by an automated sphygmomanometer.