Timing of orthostatic hypotension and its relationship with falls in older adults

Standing transthoracic echocardiography: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is associated with cardiovascular disease, particularly among older adults. While a standing transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) could theoretically identify changes in cardiac output to diagnose cardiogenic OH, there are no established protocols for orthostatic TTEs and their feasibility is unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We recruited 115 patients scheduled for elective outpatient TTE. Consenting participants, who were able to stand safely, underwent their scheduled recumbent TTE, followed by a standing TTE, performed within 1-2 minutes of standing. The focused TTE used the apical window to measure velocity time integral across the aortic valve to assess cardiac output. Blood pressure (BP) was measured in the supine and standing positions and patients were asked about symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness. OH was defined as a change in standing minus supine systolic BP ≤-20 mm Hg or in diastolic BP of ≤-10 mm Hg. Of the 115 enrolled participants, 102 (89%) completed the standing echocardiogram protocol. Among those completing, mean age was 63.4 (SD, 14.8) years (38% were ≥ 70 years), 48% women, and 34% had a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. There were 21% with OH. Upon standing, systolic BP changed by -5.9 mm Hg (95% CI: -9.5, -2.2), diastolic BP by 2.4 mm Hg (-0.1, 4.8), and cardiac output by -0.4 L/min (95% CI: -0.7, -0.1). Change in cardiac output (per 1 L/min) was associated with a higher odds of systolic OH (OR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.42), but not diastolic OH (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 0.63, 2.32).

CONCLUSIONS

Standing TTE is safe, well-tolerated, and feasible in the ambulatory setting. Moreover, TTE changes in cardiac output are associated with systolic OH. This clinical assessment shows promise for distinguishing OH etiologies and could inform further research on treatments to prevent OH.

An interdisciplinary approach for reducing falls related to orthostatic hypotension on a Veteran Administration long term care unit: A quality improvement project

BACKGROUND

Falls in the long-term care setting occur often, have a multifactorial etiology, and can result in injury and even death. This quality improvement project focused on older adult Veterans and aimed to decrease falls post-intervention from orthostatic hypotension (OH).

METHODS

Two rounds of the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model of quality improvement were completed. Round one included OH evaluation and round two added postprandial OH (PPH) evaluation. Each round included interdisciplinary team meetings to establish interventions to treat positive OH/PPH.

RESULTS

Of the twenty-five Veterans screened, twelve were OH or PPH positive with seven being negative post-intervention. Comparing fall rates three months pre/post intervention, three reduced, four increased, four had no change, and one was unobtainable.

CONCLUSION

Evaluation of fall risk is key for reducing future falls. This project found that one critical consideration is timing of evaluation, and that inclusion of a postprandial evaluation could increase the identification of OH.

Updating STEADI for Primary Care: Recommendations From the American Geriatrics Society Workgroup

In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries) toolkit which is based on the 2011 American Geriatrics Society/British Geriatrics Society (AGS/BGS) fall prevention guideline. In 2024, the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), via a Cooperative Award with the CDC of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), invited AGS to recommend updates to STEADI with a focus on falls prevention in primary care. An AGS workgroup reviewed the 2022/2024 publications and held three outreach events with stakeholders (448 participants) to get feedback on current STEADI materials and draft recommendations focused on primary care. Recommendations for improving uptake of STEADI included reframing the why (alignment with ambulation goals) and the how (engage all available interdisciplinary team members) and addressing time limitations by prioritizing STEADI elements that can be done with available time and completing assessments across multiple visits. Screening recommendations included using the Three Key Questions first, and only if positive, asking the remaining Stay Independent questions. Assessment recommendations were to limit the scope of some activities (e.g., consider specifically fall risk-increasing drugs) while expanding others (e.g., incorporating hearing and bladder health assessments). Where the choice of intervention is obvious from screening (e.g., referral to a physical therapist if screening questions points to a strength, mobility, or gait problem), an in-office assessment may reasonably be skipped. These recommendations could improve effectiveness and ease of implementation of STEADI in primary care and help primary care teams reframe fall prevention as a chronic condition deserving ongoing engagement, assessment, intervention, and follow-up.

General Principles, Etiologies, Evaluation, and Management in Older Adults

Hypertension impacts most older adults as one of many multiple chronic conditions. A thorough evaluation is required to assess overall health, cardiovascular status, and comorbid conditions that impact treatment targets. In the absence of severe frailty or dementia, intensive treatment prevents more cardiovascular events than standard treatment and may slow cognitive decline. "Start low and go slow" is not the best strategy for many older adults as fewer cardiovascular events occur when hypertension is controlled within the first 3 to 6 months of treatment.

Blood pressure targets, medication consideration and unique concerns in elderly hypertension IV: Focus on frailty, orthostatic hypotension, and resistant hypertension

Hypertension increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in the elderly. Although treating hypertension can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and its related mortality, it is also challenging because these patients could have frailty, orthostatic hypotension (OH) and resistant hypertension (RHTN), which makes them more susceptible to treatment-related adverse events. Identifying such patients and tailoring the choice of drugs and blood pressure targets is crucial to balance the harms and benefits. The Clinical Frailty Scale is recommended to assess elderly patients with hypertension and frailty. For very frail patients, unnecessary medications should be deprescribed to avoid adverse events. Hypertension and OH frequently co-occur in the elderly, and recognizing and managing OH is essential to prevent falls and adverse events. The management of blood pressure in elderly patients with frailty, OH, and RHTN is complex, requiring the patients, their family and caregivers to be involved in decision-making to ensure that treatment plans are well-informed and aligned with the patient's needs.

The SaVe project - Sarcopenia and Vertigo in aging patients with colorectal cancer: A study protocol for three randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION

Older patients with cancer range from fit to frail with various comorbidities and resilience to chemotherapy. Besides nausea and fatigue, a significant number of patients experience dizziness and impaired walking balance after chemotherapy, which can have great impact on their functional ability and health related quality of life. Symptoms are easily overlooked and therefore often underreported and managed, which is why symptoms could end up as long-lasting side effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the development of dizziness, decline in walking balance, and sarcopenia and the effect of a comprehensive geriatric assessment and 12 weeks of group-based exercise on these symptoms. The exercise intervention includes vestibular and balance exercises, and progressive resistance training, to counteract the symptoms in older patients with colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a randomized controlled trial including patients ≥65 years initiating (neo)adjuvant or first-line palliative chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. Patients will undergo a comprehensive assessment program including measures of vestibular function, balance, muscle strength, mass, and endurance, peripheral and autonomic nerve function, and subjective measures of dizziness, concern of falling, and health related quality of life. Tests will be performed at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks. Patients will be placed in three different randomized controlled trials depending on chemotherapy regimen and randomized 1:1 to comprehensive geriatric assessment and exercise three times/week or control. Participants in both groups will continue with usual care, including standardized oncological treatment. In total, 150 patients are needed to assess the two primary outcomes of (1) maintenance of walking balance assessed with Dynamic Gait Index and (2) lower limb strength and endurance assessed with 30 Second Sit-to-Stand Test at 12 weeks. The primary outcomes will be analyzed using a mixed linear regression model investigating the between-group differences.

DISCUSSION

Trial enrollment began in April 2023 and is the first trial to evaluate reasons for dizziness, decline in walking balance, and sarcopenia in older patients receiving chemotherapy. The trial will provide new and valuable knowledge in how to assess, manage, and prevent dizziness, decline in walking balance, and sarcopenia in older patients with colorectal cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The Regional Ethics Committee (j.nr. H-22064206). Danish Data Protection Agency (P-2023-86) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05710809).

Orthostatic Hypotension and Cognitive Function in Individuals 85 Years of Age: A Longitudinal Cohort Study in Sweden

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is more common in the elderly and associated with increased mortality. However, its implications for 85-year-olds are not known. In the prospective observational cohort study Elderly in Linköping Screening Assessment (ELSA 85), 496 individuals in Linköping, Sweden, were followed from age 85 years with cognitive assessments. Blood pressure (BP) was measured supine and after 1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes of standing. Participants with a BP fall of ≥20 mmHg systolic or ≥10 mmHg diastolic after 1 or 3 minutes were classified as classical continuous or classical transient OH depending on whether the BP fall was sustained or not, at subsequent measurements. Those with a BP fall of the same magnitude, but only after 5 or 10 minutes were classified as delayed OH. Of participants, 329 took part in BP measurements and were included. Of these, 156 (47.4%) had classical OH (113 [34.3%] continuous classical, 38 [11.6%] transient classical), and 15 (4.6%) had delayed OH. Cognitive assessments were not markedly different between groups. After 8.6 years, 195 (59.3%) of the participants had died, and delayed vs no OH was associated with twice the risk of all-cause mortality, HR 2.15 (95% CI 1.12-4.12). Transient classical OH was associated with reduced mortality, HR 0.58 (95% CI 0.33-0.99), but not after multiple adjustments, and continuous classical OH was not associated with mortality. OH may have different implications for morbidity and mortality in 85-year-olds compared with younger populations.