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Orthostatic reactions in the 85-year olds
1Department of Gerontology, University of Tampere, Finland.
Aging (Milan, Italy)
|June 1, 1992
Summary
Active rising is a better method than tilt tables for testing orthostatic reactions in the very elderly. This approach provides comparable blood pressure changes but a more significant heart rate increase, with fewer adverse effects.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Orthostatic reaction testing is crucial for evaluating elderly fallers.
- Current testing methods are challenging for the very elderly due to slow postural changes.
- Tilt tables offer standardization but may not be suitable for all elderly individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utility of tilt tables versus active rising for orthostatic testing in 85-year-olds.
- To compare the orthostatic responses elicited by both testing methods in healthy elderly individuals.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 85-year-old individuals without a history of falls was recruited.
- Orthostatic reactions were measured using both a tilt table and active rising.
- Blood pressure and heart rate changes were recorded during both test types.
Main Results:
- Blood pressure drops were similar between tilt table and active rising tests.
- Heart rate increases were significantly greater during active rising.
- Several participants experienced considerable systolic blood pressure drops, and some developed cardiac arrhythmias with the tilt table.
Conclusions:
- Active rising is the preferred method for orthostatic testing in the elderly.
- Existing evaluation criteria for younger subjects are inadequate for the very elderly.
- New criteria are needed for interpreting orthostatic reactions in the very elderly population.