skip to main content

Recurrent falls with postural hypotension — DGM MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasyFallsRecurrent falls with postural hypotensionDGM

An 82-year-old woman attends her GP after falling in her kitchen. She did not lose consciousness, has no injury and describes two further falls in the past 4 months. She takes bendroflumethiazide and amlodipine, and her postural blood pressure falls from 142/78 mmHg seated to 110/64 mmHg standing. What is the most appropriate assessment?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D — Comprehensive multifactorial falls assessment

NICE recommends comprehensive falls assessment for older people with recurrent falls or modifiable risk factors. The postural hypotension and recurrent falls make a narrow cardiac or bone-density-only approach inadequate. A useful teaching point is that falls assessment should include gait, balance, vision, cognition, medication, continence, cardiovascular causes and home hazards.

Reference: NICE NG249