Predictors of Orthostatic Hypotension in the Elderly: Results from the Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP) Study

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) in the elderly is an important health challenge that poses a significant burden. We sought to determine the prevalence and correlates of OH in an elderly population-based study.

This study was conducted within the framework of the Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP) on 1,588 elderly individuals aged ≥60 years. The baseline measurement was performed from April 2011 to July 2012. The relationships between OH (dependent variable) and age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, and cognitive status (independent variables) were investigated by logistic regression.

The mean age of the participants was 69.37±7.42 years (men: 69.96±7.68 y, women: 68.66±7.02 y). The prevalence of OH was 10.7%: 8.4% in the male and 13.7% in the female patients. In the final model, hypertension (OR=2.4, 95% CI: 1.6–3.7), diabetes (OR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.0–1.9), age (OR=2.9, 95% CI: 1.7–4.8), and female sex (female [OR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.1–2.3]) were significantly correlated with OH.

The prevalence of OH in our elderly subjects increased with age. Additionally, the older participants with diabetes and hypertension had a higher likelihood of having this OH.