"Subclinical" orthostatic hypotension is associated with dizziness in elderly patients with Parkinson disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate risk factors associated with subjective complaints of dizziness in 12 elderly patients with Parkinson disease (PD), in whom no obvious cause for this symptom could be found.


METHODS
A case-controlled study, with patients prospectively recruited in a nonblinded fashion.


METHODS
Patients were seen by one physician at a neurology outpatient clinic between August 1993 and August 1994.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients, all over age 65 years and all with PD; 12 complained of dizziness; 24 did not.


METHODS
Patients and controls were screened for blood pressure changes, postural instability, motor severity, multiple sensory deficits, drug use, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
An orthostatic decrease of systolic BP > 15 mmHg (odds ratio = 6.5; 95% confidence interval = 1.22 - 34.52; chi 2mh = 6.7; p < .01) and an orthostatic decrease of diastolic BP > 5mmHg (odds ratio = 11; 95% confidence interval = 3.15 - 38.39; chi 2mh = 7.14; p < .01) were significant risk factors for complaints of dizziness.


RESULTS
The only significant risk factors linked with dizziness were orthostatic decreases in systolic (15 mmHg) and diastolic (5 mmHg) blood pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
An orthostatic decrease in blood pressure is associated with unexplained feelings of dizziness in elderly PD patients.
Hillen
M E
ME
Department of Neurology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903-0019, USA.
Wagner
M L
ML
Sage
J I
JI
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003971:Diastole; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013599:Systole