Analysis Of Ambulatory Blood Pressure, CAVI And ABI Changes In Postprandial Hypotension Patients

Objective：The author aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of postprandial hypotension in the hospitalized elderly patients. Meanwhile hope to explore characteristics of ambulatory blood pressure parameters and arteriosclerosis indicators including cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) in elderly postprandial hypotension patients.Methods:The author selected 120 hospitalized elderly patients randomly, whose average age was 75.88±5.9, as research subjects. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and their CAVI and ABI were taken. Moreover, the subjects had meals at 7:30 in the morning,11:30 at noon and 17:30 in the evening on the blood pressure monitoring day. Their meals were finished in 20 minutes each time. The average value of the systolic blood pressure of the subjects taken before meals was considered the basic blood pressure, and the lowest value of the systolic blood pressure taken within two hours after meals was considered the postprandial blood pressure. According to the results, the subjects were divided into two groups: postprandial hypotension group (PPH group) and non-postprandial hypotension group (non-PPH group).Result:First, there were 72 subjects having postprandial hypotension in the 120 hospitalized elderly, and the disease rate was 60.0%. Moreover, postprandial hypotension attacked 57 patients after breakfast and the disease rate was 47.5%, which was much higher than the disease rate of lunch (34.2%) and supper (31.7%). The average age and the disease rate of hypertension of the PPH group was obviously higher than the non-PPH group(P< 0.05). Second, the average systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, blood pressure load and morning blood pressure surge of the PPH group increased obviously than the non-PPH group(P<0.05). Meanwhile, descent rate of nocturnal blood pressure of PPH group decreased comparing to non-PPH group(P<0.05). However, the diastolic blood pressure and blood pressure load of two the groups were more or less the same. Third, the bilateral CAVI of the PPH group expanded while the bilateral ABI decreased comparatively, which was meaningful from statistical perspective(P<0.05).Conclusion:The research reveals that the elderly tends to suffer high rates of postprandial hypotension, especially after breakfast. Aging and hypertension may increase the incidence of PPH. Blood pressure of postprandial hypotension patients seems usually controlled not well, their blood pressure fluctuates greatly, and their blood pressure rhythm abnormal. Moreover postprandial hypotension patients have higher degree of atherosclerosis.