Orthostatic change in blood pressure in non-demented, ambulatory nursing home patients.

While postural hypotension was present in almost 20% of ambulatory patients of this long-term institution, associated symptoms were infrequent. A comparison of the groups with and without a history of falls in the prior year revealed no relationship to the presence of postural hypotension and no relationship to a number of medications which have been reported to be associated with orthostatic hypotension. Blood pressure readings should be obtained at 1,3 and 5 min after assuming the erect position as significant falls in blood pressure were found at each interval.