ePrints

Orthostatic hypotension in patients with late‐life depression: Prevalence and validation of a new screening tool

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Alan ThomasORCiD, Dr Akshya Vasudev

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.

Abstract

© 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in a sample of late life depression (LLD) patients and to determine the validity of a standardized questionnaire, the Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ). Secondarily, we wished to assess variables associated with OH. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 82 consecutive geriatric outpatients presenting with LLD. OH was defined as a fall in systolic blood pressure of greater than 20 mm Hg and/or 10 mm Hg on diastolic blood pressure on an orthostatic stress test from sitting to standing. Logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with OH. Results: The prevalence of OH as measured on the orthostatic stress test and on the OHQ was 28% and 57%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the OHQ were 69.6% (95% CI 47%-87%), 47.5% (95%CI 34%-61%), 0.54 (95% CI: 0.43-0.64), 34% (95%CI 21%-49%), and 80% (95%CI 63%-92%), respectively. Females were more likely to have OH (OR: 3.96, 95%CI 1.06-14.89, P = .041), and those married or in a common-law relationship were less likely to have OH (OR: 0.25, 95% CI 0.08-0.72, P = .011). Conclusions: OH is common in patients with LLD conferring them a risk of gait instability and falls. Females had a higher risk of having OH while participants who were married or in a common-law relationship were less likely to have OH. Although the OHQ is a quick to administer paper-based screening test, it did not show adequate diagnostic accuracy in patients with LLD seen in a routine psychiatry clinic.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Shanbhag A, Awai H, Rej S, Thomas AJ, Puka K, Vasudev A

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

Year: 2018

Volume: 33

Issue: 10

Pages: 1397-1402

Print publication date: 01/10/2018

Online publication date: 24/07/2018

Acceptance date: 17/06/2018

ISSN (print): 0885-6230

ISSN (electronic): 1099-1166

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.4951

DOI: 10.1002/gps.4951

Altmetrics

Share