Epidemiology of balance and dizziness in a national population: findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
OBJECTIVE
to identify socio-economic, behavioural and disease status risks for impaired balance or self-reported dizziness in older people from a large population-based study.


METHODS
data were from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), for 2,925 participants, aged 65+. Multivariate models were used to assess the associations between balance and dizziness and disease status, health behaviours, grip strength and socio-economic markers.


RESULTS
there were 21.5% (n = 619) participants with impaired balance and 11.1% (n = 375) reported dizziness. Impaired balance was statistically significantly associated with age, diabetes (OR = 1.53), arthritis (OR = 1.33), eyesight (OR = 1.94) and grip strength. The wealthiest 20% of participants were less likely to have impaired balance than the poorest 20% (OR = 0.46). Dizziness problems were not associated with age, gender or wealth, but were significantly associated with an abnormal heart rhythm (OR = 1.85), hearing (OR = 1.81), eyesight (OR = 1.72) and grip strength.


CONCLUSIONS
the epidemiology of impaired balance differs from that of dizziness, and risk assessment approaches to prevent falls may need to elicit information on different problem-specific factors. Impaired balance test performance in older people may be added to the many outcomes showing strong socio-economic gradients.
Stevens
Kara N
KN
Peninsula Medical School, Epidemiology and Public Health Group, UK.
Lang
Iain A
IA
Guralnik
Jack M
JM
Melzer
David
D
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004244:Dizziness / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications