Postprandial hypotension

Abstract

Postprandial hypotension is a prevalent condition in the elderly population and seems to be more common in frail elderly individuals who may be more susceptible to complications such as syncope and falls. Diagnosis is relatively easy and may be reversible in many cases. The epidemiology and pathophysiology of postprandial hypotension are not defined fully; however, a number of pathologic processes likely are involved, including abnormal sympathetic function, baroreceptor function, and vasoactive peptide release and activity. The precise relationship between symptoms and postprandial reductions in blood pressure is unclear. Blood pressure maintenance after a meal may depend on the interaction of some or all of the mechanisms outlined previously to compensate for the increase in bowel blood volume. The impairment of one or more of these mechanisms could result in inadequate compensation that leads to hypotension. If so, the presence of symptoms depends on that individual patient's ability to exercise adequate compensatory cerebral autoregulation. A hypertensive elderly patient may experience symptoms with only a small reduction in blood pressure, whereas a patient with autonomic failure may require a much larger fall in blood pressure to occur before they become symptomatic. The current definition of postprandial hypotension uses a threshold of 20 mm Hg as a cut off for diagnosis, but this may not be relevant to the presence or absence of symptoms. Further epidemiologic data are needed. Additionally, there is a lack of controlled trial evidence for the drugs that are used to treat this condition, and treatment often is carried out on a trial-and-error basis. Further research must be performed to identify the specific pathophysiology in certain patient groups, such as elderly hypertensive patients and those with autonomic failure, and to identify effective pharmacologic therapies that can be supported by randomized, placebo-controlled trials.