Physical functioning in older persons with dizziness: a population-based study.

Abstract

Dizziness is one of the most prevalent symptoms in old age and tends to increase with age. 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. 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. 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. 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.