Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Laryngoscope. 2012 Aug;122(8):1858-61. doi: 10.1002/lary.23376. Epub 2012 May 29.
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To quantify the prevalence and determine the impact of dizziness and balance disorders in the elderly.
Cross-sectional analysis of a national database.
The balance problems survey module of the 2008 National Health Interview Survey was examined, and cases of reported dizziness or balance problems in persons ≥65 years old were identified. The prevalence of balance disorders and associated symptoms and their impacts on self-reported functional limitations were determined. The related impact on daily activities for elderly persons with balance problems was quantified. Sex-based differences in balance problems were determined.
Among 37.3 ± 0.9 million elderly persons (mean age, 74.4 ± 0.1 years; 56.9% ± 0.9% female), 7.0 ± 0.2 million persons (19.6% ± 0.7%) reported a problem with dizziness or balance in the preceding 12 months. Balance problems included difficulty with unsteadiness (68.0%), walking on uneven surfaces (54.8%), vertigo (30.1%), and faintness (29.6%). Prescription medication triggered the balance problem in 18.7%. Among the 50.0% of elderly persons with balance problems who sought care, 85.6%, 30.3%, 23.9%, and 16.8% saw a general practitioner, internist, neurologist, or otolaryngologist, respectively. Of this group, 27.4% reported that balance problems specifically prevented them from participating in activities including exercise (61.2%), social events (45.8%), and driving (47.1%). Females were more likely to experience balance problems than males (21.0% vs. 17.7%, P = .025).
Approximately one in five elderly persons experiences annual problems with dizziness or balance. Given the significant prevalence and negative effect of balance problems on daily activities in the elderly, balance disorders merit special attention, particularly in the face of an aging population.
目的/假设：定量评估老年人头晕和平衡障碍的患病率，并确定其影响。
国家数据库的横断面分析。
检查了 2008 年全国健康访谈调查的平衡问题调查模块，并确定了≥65 岁人群中报告有头晕或平衡问题的病例。确定了平衡障碍及其相关症状的患病率，以及它们对自我报告的功能限制的影响。量化了有平衡问题的老年人日常活动的相关影响。确定了性别对平衡问题的影响。
在 3730 万±90 万老年人（平均年龄，74.4±0.1 岁；56.9%±0.9%为女性）中，有 700 万±20 万人（19.6%±0.7%）在过去 12 个月内报告有头晕或平衡问题。平衡问题包括不稳感（68.0%）、在不平坦表面行走困难（54.8%）、眩晕（30.1%）和晕厥（29.6%）。18.7%的人因服用处方药物而出现平衡问题。在有平衡问题的 50.0%的老年人中，有 85.6%、30.3%、23.9%和 16.8%分别看了全科医生、内科医生、神经科医生和耳鼻喉科医生。在这一组中，有 27.4%的人报告平衡问题特别阻止了他们参加活动，包括运动（61.2%）、社交活动（45.8%）和驾驶（47.1%）。女性比男性更容易出现平衡问题（21.0%比 17.7%，P=0.025）。
大约五分之一的老年人每年都会出现头晕或平衡问题。鉴于平衡问题对老年人日常生活的高患病率和负面影响，平衡障碍值得特别关注，尤其是在人口老龄化的情况下。
