CAVEATS
Could a healthy population skew the results?
The population in this study was relatively healthy, with a lower prevalence of diabetes and coronary artery disease than the general population. While there is no reason to expect detection of OH to differ in a population with more comorbidities, the possibility exists.
If OH is not identified in < 1 minute of standing, standard OH evaluation within 3 minutes after standing should be performed, as OH identified at any time point after standing is associated with adverse events and increased mortality.
This study did not address the effects of medical intervention for OH on injury or mortality. Also, whether OH is the direct cause of the adverse outcomes or a marker for other disease is unknown.
CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTATION
A change to protocols and guidelines
Although none were noted, any change in practice requires updating clinical protocols and guidelines, which can take time.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The PURLs Surveillance System was supported in part by Grant Number UL1RR024999 from the National Center For Research Resources, a Clinical Translational Science Award to the University of Chicago. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center For Research Resources or the National Institutes of Health.
