title: Nocturnal giddiness in relation to nocturia and other symptoms and to medication in the elderly.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of nocturia, somatic diseases, symptoms, and medication to nocturnal giddiness in a group of elderly men and women. A questionnaire survey was undertaken among 10,216 elderly subjects. The mean (+/-S.D.) ages of the men and women were 73.0 +/- 6.0 and 72.6 +/- 6.7 years, respectively. Nocturnal giddiness was reported by 14.1% of the men and 9.1% of the women. Poor health was reported by 44.4% (P < 0.0001) of the men with nocturnal giddiness and by 14.0% of the men without, and among the women these figures were 45.5% and 20.0% (P < 0.0001), respectively. In a multiple logistic regression analysis significant independent correlates of nocturnal giddiness were: nocturnal micturition episodes >or=3 versus nocturia <or=2 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-2.3); married or cohabiting versus living alone (1.5; 1.1-2.0); age, 70-79 years versus <70 years (1.7; 1.2-2.3); age, >or=80 years versus <70 years (2.5; 1.7-3.6); eyesight, poor versus good (1.8; 1.4-2.4); hearing, poor versus good (1.4; 1.1-1.9); pain in the cervical spine (2.1; 1.5-2.8); spasmodic chest pain (1.5; 1.1-2.0); diabetes (1.6; 1.0-2.4); analgesics (1.8; 1.3-2.4); and diuretics (1.4; 1.1-21.8). Sex, irregular heartbeats, and sleep medication were deleted by the logistic model.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Stockholm, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden. r.asplund@telia.com
authors.forename: Ragnar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asplund
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000150:complications; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000150:complications; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D004232:Diuretics