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Postprandial Hypotension in Long‐Term Care Elderly Patients on Enteral Feeding
Author(s) -
Lubart Emily,
Segal Refael,
Baumoehl Yehuda,
Matron Marina,
Leibovitz Arthur
Publication year - 2006
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.1532-5415.2006.00839.x
Subject(s) - medicine , percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy , postprandial , blood pressure , meal , enteral administration , prospective cohort study , heart rate , peg ratio , nursing homes , diarrhea , surgery , parenteral nutrition , nursing , finance , insulin , economics
OBJECTIVES: 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. DESIGN: Prospective comparative study. SETTING: Nursing and skilled nursing wards of three geriatrics hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Three groups (OF, PEG, NGT) of long‐term care patients (50 in each cohort) were enrolled. MEASUREMENTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.