Orthostatic hypotension (
OH) is an important consideration for individuals with
stroke, given the shared occurrence of
mobility limitations, fall risk and association with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This study aimed to 1) establish the application of a simple bedside test of orthostatic challenge to identify
OH after
stroke, 2) examine differences in characteristics between those with and without
OH and 3) determine cardiovascular correlates with hemodynamic responses. Forty-nine participants (n=29 men, mean ± SD age 66 ± 7 years, time post-
stroke 4.5 ± 3.1 years) performed an orthostatic challenge (Sit-Up Test). Eleven (22%) of the 49 participants presented with
OH (n=7, of which 5 were asymptomatic) or symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion with position change (n=4). Compared to participants without
OH, those with
OH had higher total:
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios (4.2 ± 0.9 vs. 3.3 ± 0.8, P=0.009) and
triglyceride levels (2.2 ± 0.8 vs. 1.4 ± 0.5 mmol/L, P=0.001). Multivariate linear regression revealed that
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and
triglyceride levels explained 20% of the variance of the change in systolic blood pressure from the Sit-Up Test (F(2,45)=5.68, P=0.006). In conclusion, we used a simple bedside test of orthostatic tolerance to identify that over 20% of individuals with
stroke presented with
OH or symptoms of hypoperfusion. They also had more impaired cardiovascular risk profiles relative to those without
OH. These individuals may be at even higher risk for
mobility limitations and falls beyond that associated with
stroke-related deficits alone.