Orthostatic hypotension does not predict recurrent falling in a nursing home population.

OBJECTIVE

Most studies regard orthostatic hypotension (OH) as a causal factor for falls. However, the evidence is lacking for this assumption. We aimed to investigate the relationship between orthostatic hypotension and fall incidents in nursing home residents.

METHODS

A total of 249 patients was included in a prospective observational cohort study of nursing home residents. Falls were prospectively registered. Cox proportional hazard modelling and the conditional frailty model were used to analyse the relationship between OH and (recurrent) falling.

RESULTS

Among the 249 patients, 450 falls were recorded during follow-up and OH was present in 93 out of 249 patients. No significant associations were found between OH and the first fall incident (Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.01 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.60-1.69) and recurrent falling (HR 1.21 (95%CI 0.65-2.24)).

CONCLUSIONS

Although falling and OH were both highly prevalent in nursing home residents, no relationship between OH and falling was found.