Orthostatic vital signs in emergency department patients.

Abstract

To examine the variability and define the normal ranges of orthostatic vital signs in an emergency department population. Descriptive. Adult ED patients with no history of recent blood or fluid losses. Lying and standing heart rate and blood pressure measured by an automated instrument. In 132 presumed euvolemic patients, the statistical normal ranges (mean +/- 2 SD) of orthostatic vital signs were wide: on standing, the heart rate range was from decreases 5.0 to increases 39.4 beats per minute; for systolic blood pressure, the range was decreases 20 to increases 25.7 mm Hg; and for diastolic blood pressure, the range was decreases 6.4 to increases 24.9 mm Hg. In this sample, 43% had "positive" orthostatic vital signs according to currently accepted values. The data from this study indicate that there is a wider than expected variation in orthostatic vital signs among presumed euvolemic ED patients.