Report Viewer

NINDS CDE Notice of Copyright
Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ)
Availability
Please visit this website for more information about the instrument: Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire
Classification
Supplemental - Highly Recommended: Parkinson's Disease (PD)
Recommendations for use: Indicated for use in clinical trials of disease-modifying and/or symptomatic treatments of PD; as well as in longitudinal and transversal observational studies.
Short Description of Instrument
Validated scale to assess the comprehensive symptom burden and severity of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. It was developed with input from patients and physicians and comprises two components: a six-item symptom assessment scale (OHSAS) and a four-item daily activity scale (OHDAS) to assess the burden of symptoms.
Scoring and Psychometric Properties
Scoring: Items are responded to on an 11-point scale from no such symptom (0) to worst possible severity (10) for the symptom questions, and from no interference (0) to complete interference (10) for the daily activity scale.
 
Psychometric Properties: The psychometric properties of OHQ were evaluated and validated using data from a phase IV multicenter trial of midodrine. OHQ was shown to have internal consistency, reproducibility, construct validity and responsiveness to change.
Rationale/Justification
Strengths: Validated, established tool to assess symptom burden of orthostatic hypotension.
 
Weaknesses: Not disease specific, only for orthostatic hypotension and does not assess other domains of autonomic dysfunction. Does not address other manifestations such as post-prandial hypotension, hypotension upon exposure to heat, and hypotension straining at stool. Doesn't ask if improved or worsened by anti-parkinsonian drugs.
References
Key Reference:
Kaufmann H, Malamut R, Norcliffe-Kaufmann L, Rosa K, Freeman R. The Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ): validation of a novel symptom assessment scale. Clin Auton Res. 2012 Apr;22(2):79-90.
 
Additional References:
Hauser RA, Hewitt LA, Isaacson S. Droxidopa in patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension associated with Parkinson's disease (NOH306A). J Parkinsons Dis. 2014;4(1):57-65.
 
Kaufmann H, Freeman R, Biaggioni I, Low P, Pedder S, Hewitt LA, Mauney J, Feirtag M, Mathias CJ; NOH301 Investigators. Droxidopa for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension: a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Neurology. 2014 Jul 22;83(4):328-35.
 
Document last updated August 2022