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Dizziness impairs health-related quality of life

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Abstract

Purpose

Relatively little is known about the level of impairment in patients with dizziness.

Research question

How much does dizziness impair the quality of life of patients referred to a multidisciplinary dizziness unit?

Patients and methods

All 2,252 patients completed the Dutch version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI-D; score 0–100 with higher scores representing more impairment). The results were classified into three categories: mild, moderate, and severe impairment. The three domains in the DHI representing physical, functional, and emotional aspects of dizziness were compared, as well as DHI scores of men versus women, between diagnoses, and the relationship between DHI and age.

Results

A total of 2,242 patients (64% women, mean age 54 years) completed the DHI with a mean score of 40.6. Almost 70% of patients had moderate or severe complaints. The handicap perceived by patients was primarily caused by physical and functional factors and less by emotional factors. Female patients and patients with hyperventilation syndrome and/or anxiety disorder had significantly higher DHI scores on all subscales. There was an S-shaped relationship between DHI score and age, and older patients reported more impairment.

Conclusion

Dizziness has considerable impact on health-related quality of life of dizzy patients.

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Abbreviations

ADC:

Apeldoorns dizziness center

BPPV:

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

CT:

Computed tomography

DHI:

Dizziness Handicap Inventory

ENT:

Ear, nose, and throat

HRQoL:

Health-related quality of life

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

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Correspondence to H. J. van der Zaag-Loonen.

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Ten Voorde, M., van der Zaag-Loonen, H.J. & van Leeuwen, R.B. Dizziness impairs health-related quality of life. Qual Life Res 21, 961–966 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-0001-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-0001-x

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