Dizziness in a community elderly population

J Am Geriatr Soc. 1989 Feb;37(2):101-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1989.tb05867.x.

Abstract

Dizziness was studied in 1,622 community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older who were interviewed as part of the Duke Epidemiologic Catchment Area study. The lifetime prevalence of dizziness (defined as severe enough to see a physician, to take a medication, or to interfere with daily activities) was 29.3%; the 1-year prevalence was 18.2%. When the subgroup with dizziness was compared with those who never suffered dizziness, using logistic regression, four variables displayed the strongest associations: a constructed variable of risk for multiple neurosensory deficits, a cardiovascular risk score, a depression symptom inventory, and perception of self as a nervous person. In this population, dizziness was not associated with increased risk of death or institutionalization at the 1-year follow up.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / complications
  • Catchment Area, Health
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / complications
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / complications
  • Dizziness / complications
  • Dizziness / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Institutionalization
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • North Carolina
  • Random Allocation