Abstract
Background: Clinical data show higher incidence of postural hypotension in women than men. Clinicians make use of orthostatic tolerance test (OTT) to investigate such a situation and also in other varieties of clinical disorders ranging from most common disorders such as diabetes, hypertension leading to autonomic neuropathy to very rare disorders such as Shy-Drager syndrome and dysautonomias. This study will help to assess gender differences in cardiovascular response to orthostatic challenge.

Aims and Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the gender differences in cardiovascular responses such as change in systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, heart rate (HR), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) during OTT in 16–20 years of age group.

Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 34 males and 36 female students of the age group of 16–20 years. The autonomic test used to assess orthostatic tolerance was OTT which is widely used for routine clinical evaluation of autonomic dysfunction. HR and BP changes during the orthostatic challenge were recorded, and 30:15 ratio was calculated from R-R interval of electrocardiogram ECG recording during the challenge.

Results: Among the baseline parameters of males and females only HR, diastolic BP, and MAP were comparable. BP response during orthostatic challenge showed that MAP was significantly lower for females than males (P < 0.05). HR response was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The values being significantly lower for females than males this study helped to support the fact that women have less responsiveness to BP regulation during an orthostatic challenge in adolescents.

Key words: Gender; Orthostatic Challenge; Orthostatic Tolerance Test, Autonomic Dysfunction