Abstract
Objective: Elderly people sometimes experience orthostatic hypotension due to decreased baroreceptor responsiveness. We examined postural blood pressure (BP) changes from supine to sitting, and investigated an association with aging or hypertension.
Methods: The subjects were 5,325 men (53±10 [mean± SD] years old) and 3,537 women (52±10 years old) who visited our hospital for health check-ups in 2010. BP was measured in the supine position and then the sitting position after 1 to 5 minutes. Correlations between BP changes and age or supine BP were examined. The subjects were divided into 4 groups based on postural BP changes (group I: ≥10, II: 9~0, III: -1~-9, IV≤-10 mmHg). Each group was further divided into 10-year age ranges, and the prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia or glucose intolerance was compared among the groups.
Results: BP had decreased 1 minute after the postural change, and the decrease continued for 5 minutes. Postural BP changes after 1 minute were negatively correlated with age (men: r= -0.201, women: r= -0.180, p<0.001, respectively) and supine BP (men: r= -0.397, women: r= -0.361, p<0.001). In both men and women over 40 years old, the prevalence of hypertension was higher in group IV than in group I, II or III.
Conclusion: BP decreased with a postural change from supine to sitting. The BP decrease was correlated with age and supine BP, suggesting impairment of autonomic nervous regulation induced by aging or hypertension.
