Effect of orthostatic hypotension on falls risk

Windsor, Julie

Julie Windsor is patient safety clinical lead - medical specialties/older people at NHS Improvement. Mike Lowry is formerly lead for clinical skills and simulation; Sarah Ashelford is former lecturer in biosciences, both at The School of Nursing, University of Bradford.

• This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

5 practice points

1 Know how orthostatic hypotension can contribute to falls

2 Understand who is at risk of orthostatic hypotension

3 Consider person-specific fall risks when developing interventional fall care plans

4 Do not use a falls risk prediction tool for inpatients

5 Make sure inpatients aged over 65 are offered a multifactorial falls risk assessment

Nursing Times 112(44):p 11-13, November 9, 2016.

Abstract

Windsor J et al (2016) Orthostatic hypotension 1: effect of orthostatic hypotension on falls risk.

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) occurs frequently in older patients, particularly when they are in hospital. It can cause lightheadedness, unsteadiness and falls. Nurses should understand the physiology of OH, and how to assess, monitor and treat it in relation to falls assessment and management. The first article in this two-part series focuses on OH, how it contributes to falls, and how nurses can identify and manage it. Part 2 (nursingtimes.net/Hypotension2Nov9) details the anatomy and physiology of blood pressure, highlighting why its regulation is so important.

Orthostatic hypotension can increase patients’ risk of falls. Careful assessment is needed so that treatment and management strategies can be implemented

ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION: PART 1 OF 2

In this article…

> Causes and symptoms of orthostatic hypotension (OH)

> The link between OH and falls

> How to detect OH by measuring blood pressure