Orthostatic hypotension and diabetes are dangerous companions

Orthostatic hypotension in the elderly: Prevalence and its management by simple isometric limb tensing exercises

Objective

Orthostatic hypotension (OH), an important cause of falls in the elderly, is grossly underdiagnosed. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of OH among the elderly attending a secondary care hospital. Furthermore, we assessed and compared the effectiveness of simple arm and leg tensing exercises, performed just prior to standing, to mitigate the orthostatic fall in blood pressure (BP) in elderly OH patients.

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional study screened elderly patients (≥65 years) for OH and recruited them into a randomized controlled trial (CTRI/2020/08/027182) of two parallel groups performing either arm tensing or leg tensing exercises just before standing up. We performed an interim analysis of the ongoing trial using paired t-test for within-group comparisons. Patients identified to have OH based on systolic or diastolic fall in BP were analyzed separately. Chi-square analysis compared the improvement in OH status between the two groups.

Results

Nineteen out of 186 screened elderly patients were diagnosed with OH (10.21%, 95% CI: 7.99-12.43). Arm exercise significantly reduced the orthostatic-induced fall in systolic and diastolic BP, while leg exercise effectively reduced only the systolic fall in BP among patients with OH. The proportion of patients with OH after arm exercise (20%) was significantly lower than after leg exercise (77.8%) (P = 0.023, Fischer's exact test).

Conclusion

We found a 10.21% prevalence of OH in our elderly population. Furthermore, we found that simple isometric arm tensing exercise ameliorates the fall in BP on standing up in OH patients.

Postural changes in blood pressure among patients with diabetes attending a referral hospital in southwestern Uganda: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) and orthostatic hypertension (OHT) are often unrecognized in clinical care for diabetic individuals, yet they are associated with increased risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. We aimed to determine the prevalence of the abnormal orthostatic blood pressure (BP) responses, and associated factors among diabetic individuals in ambulatory care for diabetes in southwestern Uganda.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study among diabetic individuals aged 18-65 years at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, southwestern Uganda from November 2018 to April 2019. We obtained demographic and clinical data including a detailed medical history, and glycemic profile. BP measurements were taken in supine position and within 3 min of standing. We defined OH in participants with either ≥ 20 mmHg drop in systolic BP (SBP) or ≥ 10 mmHg drop in diastolic BP (DBP) after assuming an upright position. OHT was defined in participants with either a ≥ 20 mmHg rise in SBP, or ≥ 10 mmHg rise in DBP after assuming an upright position. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with OH and OHT.

RESULTS

We enrolled 299 participants, with a mean age of 50 years (SD ± 9.8), and mean HbA1c of 9.7% (SD ± 2.6); 70% were female. Of the 299 participants, 52 (17.4%; 95% CI 13.3-22.2%) met the definition of OH and 43 (14.4%; 95% CI 10.6-18.9%) were classified as having OHT. In multivariable models, factors associated with diabetic OH were older age (OR = 2.40 for 51-65 years vs 18-50 years, 95% CI 1.02-5.67, P = 0.046), diabetic retinopathy (OR = 2.51; 95% CI 1.14-5.53, P = 0.022), higher resting SBP ≥ 140 mmHg (OR = 3.14; 95% CI 1.31-8.7.56, P = 0.011), and history of palpitations (OR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.08-4.92, P = 0.031). Self-report of palpitations (OR = 3.14; 95% CI 1.42-6.95, P = 0.005), and higher resting SBP ≥ 140 mmHg (OR = 22.01; 95% CI 1.10-4.42, P = 0.043) were associated with OHT.

CONCLUSION

OH and OHT are common among diabetic individuals in ambulatory diabetes care in southwestern Uganda. Orthostatic BP measurements should be considered as part of routine physical examination to improve detection of OH and OHT, especially among older diabetics with complications of the disease. Future studies to assess the health and prognostic implications of OH and OHT among diabetics in the region are warranted.

Risk of orthostatic hypotension associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor treatment: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the association between sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and the risk of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHOD

A systematic literature retrieval was performed using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from inception up to 16 October 2019. Data for study characteristics and outcomes of interest were extracted from each eligible study. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for OH were calculated using a random-effects model.

RESULT

A total of 16 studies (n = 12,749) were included in our meta-analysis, with a result of 44 incident OH cases (29 in the SGLT2 inhibitor group, and 15 in the control group). The pooled RR was 1.17 (95% CI: 0.65-2.09). There was no evidence that receiving SGLT2 inhibitors increased the risk of OH, when stratified by age, duration of T2DM, or placebo-control or active-control and baseline blood pressure.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis suggested that, in general, SGLPT2 inhibitors did not increase the risk of OH in patients with T2DM. The possibility of OH should be, therefore, considered on an individual basis, especially in patients with a history of OH, long duration of T2DM, or comorbidities.

Blood pressure circadian rhythms and adverse outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients diagnosed with orthostatic hypotension

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Patients with diabetes frequently develop orthostatic hypotension (OH). The present study was designed to examine the relationship of blood pressure (BP) circadian rhythms and outcomes in diabetes with OH.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, 173 inpatients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. Patients were divided into an OH group and a non-OH group according to the BP changes detected in the supine and standing position. Then, 24-h ambulatory BP was monitored. Patients were followed up for an average of 45 ± 10 months post-discharge. Outcomes - death and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, including heart failure, myocardial infarction and stroke - were recorded.

RESULTS

There were 61 patients (35.26%) in the OH group and 112 patients (64.74%) in the non-OH group. In the OH group, the night-time systolic BP and night-time diastolic BP were higher, the blood BP rhythms were predominantly of the riser type (67.21%). OH was as an independent marker of riser type circadian rhythm (adjusted odds ratio 4.532, 95% confidence interval 2.579-7.966). In the OH group, the incidence rates of mortality, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were increased significantly compared with those in the non-OH group (11.48 vs 2.68%, P = 0.014; 37.70 vs 8.93%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients who had type 2 diabetes diagnosed with OH, the BP circadian rhythm usually showed riser patterns, and they had increased rates of mortality, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events.

Orthostatic hypotension for the cardiologist

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Orthostatic hypotension is a phenomenon commonly encountered in a cardiologist's clinical practice that has significant diagnostic and prognostic value for a cardiologist. Given the mounting evidence associating cardiovascular morbidity and mortality with orthostatic hypotension, cardiologists will play an increasing role in treating and managing patients with orthostatic hypotension.

RECENT FINDINGS

The American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and Heart Rhythm Society recently published consensus guidelines on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of syncope and their instigators, including orthostatic hypotension. Additionally, consensus guidelines have also been recently updated, reinforcing the universal definition orthostatic hypotension and its closely associated pathologies. Finally, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved droxidopa, a synthetic oral norepinephrine prodrug, in 2014 for the treatment of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH), and it represents a well tolerated, effective, and easy to use intervention for nOH. This represents only the second drug approved by the FDA for orthostatic hypotension, the first being midodrine in 1986. A handful of smaller head-to-head studies have pitted not only pharmacologic agents to one another but also nonpharmacologic interventions to pharmacologic agents. Additionally, recent studies have also reported on more convenient screening tools for orthostatic hypotension.

SUMMARY

Though there have been many advances in the management of orthostatic hypotension, nOH remains a chronic, debilitating, and often progressively fatal condition. Cardiologists can play a very important role in optimizing hemodynamics in this patient population to improve quality of life and minimize cardiovascular risk.