[Health measurement instruments in patients with vertigo].

OBJECTIVE

Compare disability and handicap in patients with dizziness by means of two questionnaires.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective study.

PATIENTS

337 patients seen for non-acute dizziness from peripheral or central origin in a tertiary referral setting.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Spanish version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory test and UCLA-Dizziness Questionnaire after transcultural adaptation following the method of translation-back-translation.

RESULTS

We obtained a good correlation between the frequency of dizzy spells and quality of health as perceived by the patient; also there was good correlation between the intensity of each spell and limitation for performance of daily activities. Quality of life is mainly related to handicap in these patients.

CONCLUSION

Vertigo, as a non-fatal health outcome, can be studied following the two main conceptual frameworks of Impairment, Disabilities and Handicap and Health-Related Quality of Life.