Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo among elderly patients in primary health care.
BACKGROUND
Dizziness influences well-being in old age, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause. The condition is diagnosed using the Hallpike maneuver and treated by the particle-repositioning maneuver or habituation exercises.


OBJECTIVE
To identify patients with BPPV among a variety of diagnoses represented by the ICD-10 diagnosis R42 in people 65 aged years and older who visited primary health care because of vertigo and dizziness.


METHODS
Searches were performed in the computerized medical records of 6 different health care centers over the period of 1 year for the ICD-10 diagnosis R42 and the age group 65 years and older. Letters were sent to the patients identified with an invitation for assessment and physical examination by a physiotherapist. Thirty-eight patients responded to the letter and were included in the study. All patients were assessed by physical examination including the Hallpike maneuver.


RESULTS
The study group included 13 men and 25 women, 65-94 (median 83) years of age. After physical examination, 15 patients were found to have BPPV (confidence interval 24-55%).


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, 2 of 5 of the patients with ICD-10 diagnosis R42 (dizziness and giddiness) had BPPV. BPPV is probably an underestimated cause of dizziness/vertigo among elderly patients in primary health care.
Ekvall Hansson
Eva
E
Department of Community Medicine, Lund University, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. eva.ekvall-hansson@smi.mas.lu.se
Månsson
Nils-Ove
NO
Håkansson
Anders
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013548:Sweden; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology