Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part A (2024)

Orthostatic hypotension is a pathology frequently encountered in daily clinical practice. In addition to the morbidity associated with falls and syncope, it is a factor in cognitive decline, stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and total mortality.
The autonomic nervous system plays a key role in the regulation of blood pressure during the transition to the standing position, by stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and by vagal inhibition with the consequence of peripheral vasoconstriction, increased heart rate, and myocardial contractility.
The objective of our study is to evaluate the interest in exploring the autonomic nervous system, through the autonomic cardiovascular tests of Ewing, particularly the orthostatic test in the diagnostic confirmation, the etiological orientation, and the adoption of a therapeutic strategy adapted to the patient profile.
Orthostatic hypotension is frequent and serious, with significant economic and social consequences, however, this pathology is under-diagnosed explaining the interest in its systematic screening in people over 65 years, especially those with diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, dehydration, and patients on antihypertensive treatment, through the orthostatic test, which must be supplemented in case of positive results by an exploration of the autonomic nervous system.