Which vital-sign finding would best indicate dehydration/hypovolemia in the elderly patient?

• A. Normal blood pressure
• B. Low blood pressure
• C. Elevated temperature
• D. Normal pulse rate

Answer: (B)

Dehydration reduces the amount of fluid circulating in the vessels, so the most direct sign of this volume loss is a drop in blood pressure. In the elderly, this can be subtle, but a low blood pressure clearly reflects hypovolemia and suggests the body isn’t sustaining adequate circulation. Fever isn’t a feature of dehydration, and a normal pulse rate can occur for various reasons and doesn’t specifically indicate volume loss as clearly as a low blood pressure. (Orthostatic changes can make this signal even more sensitive in older adults.)