Clinical, Neuropathic, and Sudomotor Correlates of Orthostatic Hypotension in Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a clinically relevant manifestation that may reflect cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (T2D), yet its correlates remain incompletely characterized. This cross-sectional study evaluated clinical, neuropathic, and sudomotor factors associated with OH and explored balance-related outcomes as secondary analyses.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 124 adults with T2D aged ≥60 years underwent standardized orthostatic blood pressure testing. Peripheral neuropathy was assessed using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI), and sudomotor function was assessed by electrochemical skin conductance measured with Sudoscan. Balance, mobility, and fear of falling were evaluated as exploratory secondary outcomes. Active antihypertensive treatment was recorded at the time of assessment and considered a potential confounder. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with OH.

RESULTS

OH was associated with longer diabetes duration (OR = 1.11/year, p = 0.002), higher objective neuropathy severity (MNSI-B; OR = 1.27, p = 0.049), and increased urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (OR = 1.01, p = 0.035). Sudomotor parameters did not differ significantly between OH groups in univariate analyses and were not retained in the final parsimonious model. Exploratory analyses showed no significant univariate differences in balance or fear-of-falling outcomes by OH status. Model discrimination was acceptable (AUC = 0.787), whereas calibration was imperfect according to the Hosmer-Lemeshow test; therefore, model performance should be interpreted as apparent and explanatory rather than predictive.

CONCLUSIONS

In older adults with T2D, OH was associated with longer disease duration, greater neuropathy burden, and microvascular involvement. Sudoscan-derived measures were not independently associated with OH in this cohort. Because of the cross-sectional design and residual medication confounding, all findings should be interpreted as associations only. These results support routine orthostatic evaluation alongside neuropathy and albuminuria assessment, while predictive modeling requires external validation in larger cohorts.