title: Vestibular impairment in older people frequently contributes to dizziness as part of a geriatric syndrome.
abstract: Research to identify whether dizziness is a geriatric syndrome has largely overlooked often treatable vestibular causes. To ascertain the degree to which vestibular and other causes of dizziness interact in older people, an eight-month retrospective case-note review was undertaken in patients aged ≥: 65 years referred with dizziness or imbalance to an audiovestibular medicine clinic. Of 41 patients aged 65-93 years old, 15 (37%) had multiple symptom triggers, 23 (56%) had recent dizziness-related falls, 24 (59%) and 10 (24%) had peripheral and central vestibular causes for dizziness respectively, whereas 6 (15%) had both. Sixteen (39%) had benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, of which 13 (32%) had an additional peripheral vestibular impairment. Twenty-six (63%) had other (general medical/cardiac) causes; of these 13 (50%) also had vestibular causes. Polypharmacy, orthostatic hypotension, psychotropic drug use and anxiety were common contributory factors. Vestibular causes of dizziness contribute to a multifactorial geriatric syndrome. All patients with dizziness and falls should have a vestibular assessment (especially peripheral) to improve quality of life and reduce falls.
authors: University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK david.ahearn@uhsm.nhs.uk.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Ahearn
authors: Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Bolton, UK.
authors: Dolores
authors: D
authors: Umapathy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D004244:Dizziness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014717:Vertigo; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: dizziness; geriatric syndrome; older people; vestibular impairment
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