title: Physical functioning in older persons with dizziness: a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dizziness is one of the most prevalent symptoms in old age and tends to increase with age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report physical functioning, health-related aspects and gender differences in elderly persons with and without dizziness in a population-based sample of 75-year-olds.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional sample of 75-year-olds from Gothenburg, Sweden (n = 675, 398 women and 277 men) was examined by means of questionnaires and functional tests. The questions concerned dizziness/imbalance, physical activity level, walking habits, falls efficacy, number of falls, subjective health or general fatigue and medication. The tests included were self-selected and maximum gait speed, stair climbing capacity, one leg stance and grip strength.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More women than men reported dizziness/imbalance (40 vs 30 %, p < 0.001). Persons with dizziness, compared to those without dizziness, less often regularly exercised at a moderate intensity level (summer: 62 vs 74 %, p < 0.001; winter: 41 vs 51 %, p < 0.001), less often took a daily walk (p < 0.05), had lower scores on the FES(S) (p < 0.001), more often reported general fatigue (p < 0.001), more often had fallen in the previous year (40 vs 23 %, p < 0.001) and had a higher intake of medical drugs (4.6 vs 3.3, p < 0.001). They also performed worse regarding gait speed, stair climbing and one leg stance (p < 0.001), but there was no difference in grip strength.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older persons with dizziness are less physically active, have worse lower extremity function, are more often fallers and report lower self-rated health than persons without dizziness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Vita stråket 13, 413 62, Gothenburg, Sweden. lena.kollen@gregion.se.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kollén
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hörder
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences Örebro University, Audiological Research Centre, Örebro University Hospital, Institute for Disability Research, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Claes
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frändin
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Dynamic balance; Elderly person; Unsteadiness; Vertigo