We assess
orthostatic hypotension (
OH) prevalence in elderly fallers and determine
OH-associated risk factors in this patient population. A monocentric prospective study at Lille University Hospital Falls Clinic included 833 consecutive patients who had fallen or were at high risk of falls and who were assessed for the presence of
OH. Among 833 patients aged 80.4±7.4 years,
OH was found in 199 subjects (23.9% of cases). Multivariate analysis showed that
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (odds ratio (OR) 2.42, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.56-3.75),
serotonin-
norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (OR 5.37, 95% CI: 1.93-14.97),
Parkinsonian syndrome (OR 2.54, 95% CI: 1.54-4.19), excessive alcohol consumption (OR 2.17, 95% CI: 1.32-3.56),
meprobamate (OR 2.65, 95% CI: 1.12-6.25) and
calcium channel blockers (OR 1.79, 95% CI: 1.16-2.76) were all risk factors for
OH. In contrast,
angiotensin receptor blockers (OR 0.52, 95% CI: 0.30-0.91) appeared to be protective factors against
OH. This study demonstrates that a systematic investigation should be made in all elderly fallers and those at high risk of falls to detect the presence of
OH. In
OH patients, in addition to the usual predisposing factors, excessive alcohol consumption and
psychotropic drug intake-in particular, the intake of serotonergic
antidepressants-should be taken into account as potential risk factors.