• Qing Olivia Zhu, Choon Seng Gilbert Tan, Hwee Leong Tan, Ruining Geraldine Wong, Chinmaya Shrikant Joshi, Ravi Amran Cuttilan, Gek Khim Judy Sng, and Ngiap Chuan Tan.
• MOH Holdings Private Limited, Singapore.
• Singap Med J. 2016 Aug 1; 57 (8): 444-51.

IntroductionThe prevalence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) among the elderly population in Singapore, as defined by a decline in blood pressure upon a change in position, is not well-established. Studies associate OH with clinically significant outcomes such as falls. This study aims to determine the prevalence of OH among elderly patients attending a public primary care clinic (polyclinic) for chronic disease management, and examine the relationships between postulated risk factors and OH.MethodsPatients aged ≥ 65 years attending a typical polyclinic in Geylang were identified and targeted for recruitment at the study site. A questionnaire on symptoms and postulated risk factors was administered, followed by supine and standing blood pressure measurements. Cross-sectional analysis was performed with independent sample t-test for continuous data and chi-square test for categorical data. Prevalence rate ratios with 95% confidence interval were calculated for the latter.ResultsA total of 364 multiethnic patients participated in the study. The prevalence of OH was 11.0%. Older age, comorbidities such as cardiac failure and kidney disease, being physically inactive at work, fatigue, self-reported dizziness in the past year, and the use of loop diuretics were found to be significantly associated with OH.ConclusionAbout one in ten elderly patients at a local polyclinic was affected by OH, which was associated with multiple factors. Some of these factors are modifiable and can be addressed to reduce the incidence of OH.Copyright: © Singapore Medical Association.

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