Predicting outcomes on head-up tilt based on orthostatic hypotension patterns

Abstract

Objective 

To assess the frequency of different orthostatic hypotension (OH) patterns in patients having supine hypertension with OH (‘SHOH’) versus patients with OH and normal supine blood pressure (‘OH alone’); and to relate OH patterns with outcomes on head-up tilt.

Methods 

Consecutive patients with nonspecific dizziness were studied with a 10-min supine, 30-min head-up tilt test. Supine hypertension was diagnosed when supine systolic blood pressure (SBP) was at least 140 mmHg and/or supine diastolic blood pressure was at least 90 mmHg. OH was defined as SBP reduction of at least 20 mmHg within 3 min of tilt. OH patterns were identified corresponding to SBP time-curves during the initial 5 min of tilt: progressive, sustained and transient patterns.

Results 

Among 400 patients tested, 31 had ‘SHOH’ and 39 had ‘OH alone’. Frequencies of OH patterns were similar in both groups. The progressive OH pattern predicted symptomatic hypotension, leading to early tilt termination in all ‘SHOH’ and 88% of ‘OH alone’ patients. In comparison, tilt was early terminated in 33–48% of patients with sustained OH, transient OH and without OH. Early tilt termination was unrelated to age, gender, magnitude of supine SBP, pulse pressure and nadir SBP within 5 min tilt.

Conclusions 

Five minutes of postural challenge permitted assessing OH patterns. Outcome on protracted tilt was related to OH patterns, the worse outcome being likened to progressive OH, both in patients with ‘SHOH’ and in patients with ‘OH alone’. Future studies will show whether OH patterns may serve as guidance for blood pressure therapy in selected patients.