Epidemiological aspects of vertigo in the general population of the Autonomic Region of Valencia, Spain

• Published in: Acta oto-laryngologica Vol. 128; no. 1; pp. 43 - 47
• Main Authors: Pérez Garrigues, H., Andres, C., Arbaizar, A., Cerdan, C., Meneu, V., Oltra, J.A., Santonja, J., Pérez, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Stockholm Informa UK Ltd 2008; Taylor & Francis; Taylor and Francis
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; age; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology; Emergencies; Female; general population; Health Surveys; Humans; Incidence; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Nervous system as a whole; Neurology; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Primary care centre; Primary Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Referral and Consultation - utilization; sex; Sex Factors; Spain; Vertigo - epidemiology; Vertigo - etiology; Vestibular Neuronitis - epidemiology; Vestibular Neuronitis - etiology; working status; Europe; Spain; Human; Nervous system diseases; Sex; ENT; general population; Epidemiology; Care; Vertigo; Equilibrium disorder; working status; ENT disease; Primary care centre; Age
• ISSN: 0001-6489; 1651-2251
• DOI: 10.1080/00016480701387090

Conclusion. Vertigo, defined as an illusion of unequivocal rotatory motion, is a common symptom in the general population that frequently requires individuals to seek medical attention in a primary care centre. Objectives. To evaluate the annual incidence of patients who suffer vertigo, and to examine some of the variables associated, in a sample of the general population of the Autonomic Region of Valencia, Spain. Subjects and methods. The study was designed as an observational, incidence study. The study area included six primary care centres with a total population of 10760 inhabitants. The parameters studied were age, sex, working status, de novo presentation or recurrent vertigo crisis. Results. A total of 191 patients (17.8 patients per 1000 inhabitants) sought medical attention because of vertigo over the year of the study. Of these, 82 patients (7.6 per 1000 inhabitants) experienced vertigo for the first time, a de novo crisis. Women were more often affected and the crises occurred more frequently in individuals between 50 and 60 years of age. The work status had influence on the results obtained.