Age-related Differences in Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Responses to Changes in Body Position: Results from a Study with Serial Measurements in the Supine and Standing Positions in 30-, 50- and 60-year-old men

Abstract

This population-based study presents the blood pressure and heart rate responses to sudden changes in body position in representative groups of men aged 30 (n = 50), 50 (n = 44) and 60 (n = 69) years, using an unbiased method for non-invasive blood pressure measurements. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured every minute during three 7-min periods in the supine, standing and again supine positions. Whereas there was an initial decrease in systolic blood pressure upon standing in men aged 50 and 60 years, an increase was seen in the 30-year-olds. The diastolic blood pressure increased in all age groups, but less in the older compared to the younger men. In all age groups, the changes in systolic blood pressure upon standing were transient, while the changes in the diastolic blood pressure lasted during the entire observation period. The heart rate increased to a similar extent upon standing in all age groups. No symptomatic hypotension was observed. After resuming the supine position, both blood pressure and heart rate returned towards the levels initially recorded. This population-based study confirms previous observations in selected subjects of age-related attenuation in blood pressure response to change in body position. The study also shows that blood pressure and heart rate are rapidly stabilized upon standing up.