直立性低血压的发病率在老人中更高一些,但取决于基础医学状况,有很大差异。在老年社区发病率为 11%~16%,[1]Rodstein M, Zeman FD. Postural blood pressure changes in the elderly. J Chronic Dis. 1957;6:581-588.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13491668?tool=bestpractice.com[2]Wu JS, Yang YC, Lu FH, et al. Population-based study on the prevalence and correlates of orthostatic hypotension/hypertension and orthostatic dizziness. Hypertens Res. 2008;31:897-904.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18712045?tool=bestpractice.com[3]Low PA. Prevalence of orthostatic hypotension. Clin Auton Res. 2008;18(Suppl 1):8-13.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18368301?tool=bestpractice.com但在疗养院或者老年病房的老人,发病率显著上升(分别为 50% 和 68%)。[4]Ooi WL, Hossain M, Lipsitz LA. The association between orthostatic hypotension and recurrent falls in nursing home residents. Am J Med. 2000;108:106-111.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11126303?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Weiss A, Grossman E, Beloosesky Y, et al. Orthostatic hypotension in acute geriatric ward: is it a consistent finding? Arch Intern Med. 2002;162:2369-2374.http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=213832http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12418952?tool=bestpractice.com这些机构的高患病率可能说明,这些人群中存在多种危险因素,比如神经退行性疾病导致直立性低血压、药物损害了对体位变化的正常反应(比如,降压药、抗抑郁药物)。