Physical functioning in older persons with dizziness: a population-based study
2017 (English)In: Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, ISSN 1594-0667, E-ISSN 1720-8319, Vol. 29, no 2, p. 197-205Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Background: Dizziness is one of the most prevalent symptoms in old age and tends to increase with age.
Aims: 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.
Conclusion: 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.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer, 2017. Vol. 29, no 2, p. 197-205
Keywords [en]
Vertigo, unsteadiness, elderly person, dynamic balance
National Category
Physiotherapy Geriatrics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-49872DOI: 10.1007/s40520-016-0567-9ISI: 000400383800012PubMedID: 27086001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84963739329OAI: oai:DiVA.org:oru-49872DiVA, id: diva2:920841
Note
Funding Agency:
Research and Development Council for Southern Gothenburg and Bohuslän
2016-04-192016-04-192020-12-01Bibliographically approved