Orthostatic hypotension in the first month following acute spinal cord injury

Study Design: Retrospective data analysis. Objectives: To determine prevalence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) during the acute rehabilitation period. Setting: Quaternary care spinal unit, Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada Methods: Eighty-nine patients with acute SCI stratified by neurological level (cervical, 55 (62%); upper thoracic, 12 (13%); lower thoracic, 22 (25%)), and graded by American Spinal Injury Association standards. Non-invasive measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were made at baseline and 3 min following an orthostatic challenge test administered during the first month after SCI. Results: Patients with cervical or upper thoracic motor complete SCI more frequently experienced OH ( P