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Unprovoked and Glyceryl Trinitrate–Provoked Head‐Up Tilt Table Test Is Safe in Older People: A Review of 10 Years' Experience
Author(s) -
Gieroba Zbigniew J.,
Newton Julia L.,
Parry Steve W.,
Norton Michael,
Lawson Joanna,
Kenny Rose Anne
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52518.x
Subject(s) - medicine , blood pressure , provocation test , older people , tilt table test , test (biology) , physical therapy , anesthesia , heart rate , gerontology , paleontology , alternative medicine , pathology , biology
Objectives: To test the safety of the head‐up tilt test (HUT) in older adults. Design: Direct observation and measurements. Setting: Tests performed in a quiet room with dim lighting in a laboratory setting. Participants: One thousand ninety‐six subjects aged 60 to 74; 873 aged 75 and older. Measurements: Blood pressure and pulse at baseline for 10 minutes and 70° tilt for maximum of 45 minutes. Subjects with unprovoked HUT had test repeated on a separate day after 800 mg glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). Results: One thousand four hundred ninety‐five drug‐free and 474 GTN‐provoked HUTs were studied. In those aged 60 to 74, the proportion of hypotensive unprovoked HUT was 16% (27% in those aged ≥75); this was higher with GTN provocation (43% in those aged 60–74, 44% in those aged ≥75; P <.01). Systolic blood pressure decreased during provoked HUT (lowest mean±standard deviation=67±20 in those aged 60–74, 63±24 in those aged ≥75; P <.01). There was one cardiovascular and no neurological complications. Conclusion: This study included 10 times as many people as previous studies and demonstrates the safety of HUT in older people.