No prospective association between hypotension and idiopathic fatigue.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that there is a prospective association between constitutional hypotension and new-onset fatigue in a large, representative sample.


METHODS
In this prospective study using a large population-based cohort dataset, the Health and Lifestyle Survey, a representative sample of the population residing in private dwellings in Great Britain in 1984 (n=9003, ages 18-97 years) had their blood pressure measured and were asked about fatigue. Participants reporting fatigue at baseline were excluded. The outcome was fatigue state in 1991.


RESULTS
No association was shown, unadjusted or adjusted for likely confounders, in the healthy young population [systolic BP: adj. OR (95% CIs)=1.25 (0.90-1.74); diastolic BP: 1.18 (0.84-1.65)] or the whole population [systolic BP: 0.98 (0.77-1.26); diastolic BP: 1.01 (0.79-1.26)].


CONCLUSIONS
In this British population-based study, hypotension was not a risk factor for incident idiopathic fatigue.
Lee
William E
WE
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Weston Education Centre, London, UK. w.lee@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Hotopf
Matthew
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003710:Demography; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult