Patterns of orthostatic blood pressure change and their clinical correlates in a frail, elderly population.

Objectives: To determine patterns of within-day orthostatic blood pressure (BP) changes and clinical factors correlated with them in frail, elderly nursing home residents.

Design: Prevalence study of orthostatic BP change.

Setting: Sample of 45 nursing homes.

Cardiovascular adaptation to orthostatic stress during vasodilator therapy.

Background: Orthostatic hypotension is a dangerous problem in elderly patients, often exacerbated by vasodilator medications. Age- and disease-related impairments in cardioacceleration and diastolic ventricular function may make older patients particularly vulnerable to the hypotensive effects of these drugs. Therefore we aimed to determine mechanisms of postural blood pressure regulation in elderly patients with coronary artery disease and to compare the effects of isosorbide dinitrate and nicardipine hydrochloride on postural blood pressure homeostasis in these patients.

Effects of chronic estrogen replacement therapy on beat-to-beat blood pressure dynamics in healthy postmenopausal women.

Recent data showing gender differences in autonomic control of heart rate and acute estrogen effects on vasodilatation suggest that estrogen may influence autonomic regulation of heart rate and blood pressure. We aimed to determine the effect of postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy on autonomic control of beat-to-beat heart rate and blood pressure dynamics. Subjects included 20 healthy postmenopausal women aged 60 to 75 years with normal exercise tolerance tests, 10 of whom were taking oral estrogen for 13 +/- 3 (+/- SEM) years.

Postprandial hypotension in elderly patients with unexplained syncope.

Background: Syncope in older patients may be caused by a variety of disorders, including hypotension, but frequently remains unexplained. Postprandial hypotension is a common disorder of blood pressure regulation in the elderly.

Objective: To determine the pathogenic mechanisms and potential role of postprandial hypotension in elderly patients with otherwise unexplained syncope.

Haemodynamic and neurohumoral effects of caffeine in elderly patients with symptomatic postprandial hypotension: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

1. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of caffeine on haemodynamic and neurohumoral responses to meal ingestion in elderly patients with a history of symptomatic postprandial hypotension. 2.