Haemodynamic parameters for assessment of orthostatic intolerance in older people

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a frequent cause of orthostatic intolerance (OI) and related symptoms associa/-ted with the occurrence of syncope. The purpose of this study was to examine if older people haemodynamic profile with symptoms of OI is different to controls during active stand. The database includes sample of 45 participants, aged at least 60 years, where 46.7% (n=21) had symptomatic OI and 53.3% (n=24) did not. Haemodynamic parameters were registered during three phases: a pre-exercise, walking phase and a post-exercise stand. Different haemodynamic parameters such as, pulse rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and cardiac output (CO) were extracted at each of the phases. Results showed differences along phases in both groups. Mean HR differences in phase 1-2 and phase 2-3 showed a statistical signification between symptomatic OI and non-symptomatic OI group. In addition, the combination of the variables rise/fall time-maximum/minimum amplitude in phases 2-3 showed opposite trends in men and women in symptomatic and non-symptomatic OI groups. These findings show the potential of haemodynamic parameters to classify symptomatic and non-symptomatic OI in older people.