Prevalence of dizziness in older people

Purpose to measure the prevalence of dizziness in elderly participants of a living group of a brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) referral center located in the city of Natal-RN. Methods prospective study. Fifty individuals were interviewed, aged between 60 and 88 years. Data were studied through descriptive analysis. Results the prevalence of dizziness in this population was 74%, from which 35.1% had only vertigo, 13.5% had vertigo associated to other types of dizziness, 24.3% had imbalance, 8.1% sensation of floating, 16.2% had presyncope, and 2.7 % had sensation of floating and presyncope. About duration of dizziness, for 48.6%, it lasted in seconds. About otoneurologic symptoms, 48.64% had neurovegetative symptoms, 56.8% had tinnitus, 56.8% had hearing loss, 43.2% had ear fullness. Regarding other problems, 10.8% did not wear glasses; 2.7% wore hearing aids, 8.1% used canes, 48% had two or more associated diseases and 40% was using three or more medications daily. Comparing dizzy and not dizzy patients, it was found a prevalence ratio (PR) of 0.947 for number of comorbidities and 0.971 for number of medications. When elderly with vertigo and other types of dizziness were compared, it was found a RP 1.197 for tinnitus, 1.050 for ear fullness, 2.111 for neurovegetative symptoms, 0.480 for duration of dizziness, 0.528 for number of comorbidities and 0.758 for number of medications. Conclusion we conclude that dizziness is a very prevalent symptom in the elderly, coexisting with co-morbidities and use of multiple medications.