Evaluation of the Relationship Between Postprandial Hypotension and Carotid Intima Thickness in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Abstract Aim: Postprandial hypotension is recognized as a common cause of syncope and falls. This study aimed to determine the frequency of postprandial hypotension in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis and to investigate the relationship between postprandial hypotension and carotid intima thickness. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the Peritoneal Dialysis Unit of Hatay Training and Research Hospital and was designed as a retrospective study. A total of 28 patients on peritoneal dialysis were included. Inclusion criteria were patients older than 18 years of age who had been on peritoneal dialysis for at least three months. Patients wore an ambulatory blood pressure Holter device, and carotid Doppler ultrasonography was performed. Results: The study included 28 patients with a mean age of 48 ± 14.04 years (range: 18–68); 14 were male and 14 were female. The mean systolic blood pressure was 131.2 ± 23.4 mmHg (range: 81–178), and the mean diastolic blood pressure was 75.7 ± 14.2 mmHg (range: 48–99). Ambulatory blood pressure was normal in 12 patients, while 16 patients were hypertensive. Hypertension was present in 25 patients (89.3%). Carotid intima thickness was evaluated in 26 patients, and increased thickness was detected in 10 of them (35.7%). Postprandial hypotension was observed in six patients (21.4%), all of whom had a history of hypertension. Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of hypertension was 89.3%, and the frequency of postprandial hypotension was 21.4%. Increased carotid intima thickness was identified in 35.7% of the patients. No significant correlation was observed between postprandial hypotension and carotid intima thickness.