Background Two methods have been used for diagnosing orthostatic hypertension (OHT), but it is unclear whether the populations with OHT defined by these 2 methods have similar demographic characteristics.

Methods Supine and upright BPs were measured (Omron HEM-7101) in 916 adults with normal supine blood pressure (BP). The difference between upright and supine BP was recorded as ΔBP. The criteria for OHT on SBP (s-OHT) in amplitude method was ΔSBP ≥ 10mmHg and than in absolute value method was upright SBP≥140mmHg. The demographic characteristics and BP of 2 s-OHT groups were compared.

Results In this population, the detection rate of s-OHT on amplitude method was significantly higher, than that on absolute method (21.8% vs 14.7%, P < 0.05). Only 91 the 135 s-OHT cases on absolute method were included into the 200 cases on amplitude method and the overlapping rate was 37.3%. The s-OHT group on absolute method shows higher male percentage, age, BMI, supine and upright SBP compared with amplitude method.

Conclusions The detection rates of s-OHT vary with the defining methods in a community population. The two s-OHT groups defined by amplitude method and absolute method have obvious heterogeneity in demographic characteristics, supine and upright SBP, especially in young population.