Affiliations: [a] Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden | [b] Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden | [c] School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
Abstract: Objective:To investigate the prevalence of self-rated dizziness/unsteadiness and health as well as to estimate the proportion of participants with peripheral vestibular disorders. Methods:Altogether, 2547 participants (66%) participated in an epidemiological cross-sectional study, including self-rated questions about dizziness/unsteadiness, concomitant auditory symptoms and self-rated general, psychosocial and mental health. Results:The overall prevalence of dizziness was 21% and higher among women (27%) than men (14%) (p< 0.001). Dizziness, provoked by the movement of lying-down (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), was noted in 5% of the participants with the symptom occurring more often in women than in men (p< 0.001). Twenty-four percent of the men and 21% of the women with dizziness simultaneously experienced a sense of rotation and loss of hearing and tinnitus. Fifteen percent reported falls because of dizziness. Both men and women suffering from dizziness symptoms perceived worse self-rated health generally, psychosocially and mentally than those without symptoms of dizziness (p< 0.001). Conclusion:Dizziness-related symptoms are common in all age groups and may manifest worse self-rated health. About 50% of the participants had symptoms indicating origin of peripheral vestibular disorders. Self-rated questions seem capable of identifying patients for referral to clinical examinations and subsequently those who can be successfully treated.
Keywords: Balance disturbance, dizziness, epidemiology, self-rated health, quality-of life
