Low blood pressure while standing in patients with Parkinson’s disease

This study investigated the occurrence of orthostatic hypotension (OHT) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Researchers suggested that OHT is common in these patients and is associated with both PD and PD treatment.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a brain disease that attacks brain cells. The abilities controlled by these cells are lost causing symptoms such as muscle weakness or even OHT. OHT is a drop in blood pressure after a change in body position. This change can be caused by slower heart activity or reduced blood vessel resistance (which makes the blood travel through the body). OHT causes a reduction in oxygen delivered to the brain, which increases the risk of falls.

Prior studies on patients with PD and OHT had a short follow-up. Therefore, little is known about the long-term effects of OHT in these patients.

This study included information about 185 patients with PD and OHT. They were compared to 172 healthy similar people. Patients with PD were newly diagnosed and did not have any PD medication at the beginning of the study. They were followed up for 7 years. Blood pressure (BP) was monitored.

Over the 7 years, OHT was more common in patients with PD (65.4%). However, only 29.2% were clinically significant. The risk of having OHT for these patients rose from 3 to 4.9 after 7 years from diagnosis.

Older patients were 1.06 times more at risk of having OHT. Another risk factor was mental disorders and longer disease duration. Patients receiving a high levodopa (PD medication) dosage were 1.16 times more at risk of a clinically significant OHT.

This study concluded that OHT was very common in patients with PD and undertreated in patients with early disease.