Heart failure and orthostatic hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is traditionally defined as a fall of >= 20 mmHg in systolic and/or >= 10 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure within 3 min of active standing. OH is a common comorbidity among patients with heart failure (HF). A comprehensive review regarding the relationship between OH and HF has not been published in the English literature. Here we provide current information about concomitant HF and OH, including: pathophysiology, methods of evaluation, prevalence, risk factors, prognosis and management of OH in HF patients, as well as the incidence of HF among patients with OH. The prevalence of OH in HF ranges from 8 % among community-living individuals to 83 % in elderly hospitalized patients. Dizziness and palpitations are the most frequent OH symptoms. Main predisposing factors for OH are HF severity, non-ischemic HF etiology, prolonged bed rest, hypertension and polypharmacy. OH in HF is generally managed according to recommendations for treatment of OH in the non-HF population. However, since acceptable pharmacotherapy with fludrocortisone and midodrine is problematic in HF due to adverse effects, the management of OH is based mainly on non-pharmacologic interventions. Several prospective epidemiological studies reported that OH is independently associated with an increased risk of developing HF. Since OH is a common and frequently symptomatic condition in HF patients, its clinical implications should be emphasized. Longitudinal studies should be conducted to investigate the prognostic significance and optimal management of OH in the HF population.