Postprandial hypotension in long-term care elderly patients on enteral feeding.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence and nature of postprandial hypotension (PPH) in orally fed (OF), nasogastric tube (NGT)-fed, and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)-fed older people.


METHODS
Prospective comparative study.


METHODS
Nursing and skilled nursing wards of three geriatrics hospitals.


METHODS
Three groups (OF, PEG, NGT) of long-term care patients (50 in each cohort) were enrolled.


METHODS
Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate measurements were obtained just before lunch and at 15-minute intervals for 90 minutes after the completion of the meal. The meals were similar in caloric content and composition.


RESULTS
PPH was evidenced in 64 (43%) patients. No significant intergroup (OF, PEG, NGT) differences were present. In 68% of PPH patients, the systolic BP (SBP) drop appeared within 30 minutes, and 70% reached their systolic nadir at 60 minutes. In 31%, the SBP drop was registered on only one measurement, whereas in 25%, the drop was detected on five to six measurements. All parameters were without notable intergroup differences.


CONCLUSIONS
In enterally fed elderly patients (NGT or PEG), the rate and pattern of PPH are similar and not significantly different from that observed in OF patients.
Lubart
Emily
E
Shmuel Harofe Geriatric Medical Center, Beer-Yaakov; and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Segal
Refael
R
Baumoehl
Yehuda
Y
Matron
Marina
M
Leibovitz
Arthur
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D019518:Postprandial Period; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies