The Prevalence of Orthostatic Hypotension in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in a Diabetic Clinic in Enugu South-East Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Orthostatic Hypotension is a serious and common complication of diabetes mellitus.
AIMS: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of Orthostatic Hypotension in type 2 diabetic patients in a diabetes mellitus clinic in Enugu South-East Nigeria.
METHOD AND MATERIALS: A structured questionnaire was administered to the eligible and consenting seventy type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.
The supine and erect blood pressures of each patient were recorded. The patients with Orthostatic Hypotension were compared with those without
Orthostatic Hypotension for different clinical and biochemical parameters.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 software. Odds ratio was calculated for the presence of Orthostatic Hypotension amongst the
variables and p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: The prevalence of Orthostatic Hypotension in type 2 diabetic patients was 23.3%. Orthostatic Hypotension had statistically significant association with the presence of peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy
and proteinuria.
CONCLUSIONS: Orthostatic Hypotension is a common complication in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients seen at Enugu. It is recommended that
measurement of erect and supine blood pressures should be part of the standard care of type 2 diabetic patients.

KEY WORDS: Prevalence, orthostatic, hypotension, Enugu, Nigeria