Orthostatic hypotension in the nursing home setting.
Orthostatic hypotension is a common condition among nursing home (NH) residents. NH residents tend to have multiple disease processes and tend to be on multiple medications associated with orthostatic hypotension and are predisposed to a myriad of negative clinical consequences, most notably falls. This article discusses a commonsense approach to diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of patients with this disorder, with an emphasis on nonpharmacological interventions, such as patient and staff education.
Iwanczyk
Lukasz
L
UCLA Multicampus Geriatrics Fellowship Program, Sepulveda, CA 91343, USA. liwanczyk@hotmail.com
Weintraub
Nancy T
NT
Rubenstein
Laurence Z
LZ
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001458:Bandages; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D015984:Causality; D003663:Decision Trees; D005438:Fludrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008879:Midodrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011187:Posture; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D008879:Midodrine; D005438:Fludrocortisone