Abstract
Subjects in the study were 28 inpatients aged over 60 years treated in the Gastroenterology Department of Internal Diseases Institute, Medical Academy in Poznań, and 104 residents of a nursing home. A detailed subjective examination was carried out to establish clinical symptoms of postprandial hypotonia, concomitant ailments, and received medication, while an objective examination – to determine the patients' BMI. A preliminary diagnosis of postprandial hypotonia was confirmed by additional measurements. Arterial blood pressure was measured typically on the brachial artery 15 minutes prior to a meal and at 15-minute intervals after meal during the following 90 minutes. A decrease of arterial blood pressure by the required 20 mmHg was found usually in the interval of 45 to 90 minutes after meal in 14 patients, i.e. in 50% of the group selected due to a high risk for postprandial hypotonia.