Study on the causes and risk factors on vertigo and balance disorders in 118 elderly patients / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the various factors causing vertigo and balance disorders in the elderly.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>118 elderly patients (aged equal or older than 60 years of age) with vertigo or balance disorders were retrospectively analyzed through clinical symptoms, audio-vestibular function tests, X-ray, CT scan or MRI in cervical vertebras, brain and inner ears, ultrasonography, transcranial doppler (TCD) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in blood vessels on head and neck.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 118 patients, 70 (23%) of them suffered perip heral vestibular disorders while 29 (58%) having cerebral vertigo or dizzness, leaving 19 cases (16%) as unclassified.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For elderly patients, vertigo and balance disorders were commonly caused by many kinds of peripheral and cerebral vestibular pathological disfunctions while the functional weakness of vestibular organs and systems affected by the physiological process of ageing and different concommitant diseases as well as environmental, psychogenic factors should also be considered.</p>