Abstract
Postprandial hypotension (PPH) is defined as a fall of ≥20 mmHg in systolic blood pressure (SBP) or a SBP of <90 mmHg after having been >100 mmHg before the meal within two hours after a meal. The prevalence of PPH among persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) is unknown. Ambulatory blood pressure measurement was performed in 158 persons with SCI, 109 men, median age was 59.1 years (min.:13.2; max.: 86.2). In total, 78 persons (49.4%) had PPH after 114 out of 449 meals (25.4%). The median change in SBP during PPH was −28 mmHg (min.: −87; max.: −15 mmHg) and 96% of the PPH episodes were asymptomatic. The occurrence of PPH was correlated to older age (p = 0.001), level of injury (p = 0.023), and complete SCI (p = 0.000), but not, gender or time since injury. Further studies are needed to elucidate if PPH contributes to the increased cardiovascular mortality in the SCI population.
Highlights
In most individuals, the intake of a meal increases blood flow to the gut with no or very minor effects on systemic blood pressure
The present study is a cohort study based on ABPM performed among persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) admitted to The Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark
The main finding from the present study is that postprandial hypotension (PPH) is common among persons with SCI
Summary
The intake of a meal increases blood flow to the gut with no or very minor effects on systemic blood pressure. Low systolic blood pressure (SBP) following a meal is termed postprandial hypotension (PPH). PPH is defined as a fall of ≥20 mmHg in SBP or a SBP of 100 mmHg before the meal within two hours after ingesting a meal [1,2,3]. The prevalence of PPH increases with age and may occur as a side-effect to various medications [4,5,6]. PPH is associated with increased risk of falls, syncope, coronary events, stroke, asymptomatic lacunar infarction, asymptomatic cerebrovascular damage, and death [7]. The above mentioned are associated with a risk of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia [8]
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