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Dizziness and death: An imbalance in mortality
Author(s) -
Corrales C. Eduardo,
Bhattacharyya Neil
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.25902
Subject(s) - medicine , confidence interval , national health interview survey , odds ratio , mortality rate , demography , national health and nutrition examination survey , diabetes mellitus , disease , population , environmental health , sociology , endocrinology
Objectives/Hypothesis To determine if dizziness is an independent risk factor for mortality among adults in the United States. Study Design Cross‐sectional analysis using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Methods Adult respondents in the 2008 NHIS were evaluated. Demographic information (gender, race, ethnicity, education level), prevalence of dizziness, mortality rates, and leading causes of death (cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease) were collected and analyzed. The association between dizziness and subsequent mortality was determined adjusting for demographic and other disease factors. Results Among 213.6 ± 3.5 million adult Americans, 23.8 ± 0.7 million reported dizziness in the past 12 months (11.1% ± 0.3%; mean age, 45.9 ± 0.2 years; 51.7% ± 0.5% female). The mortality rate among the group without dizziness in the preceding 12 months was 2.6% ± 0.1%, compared to the dizzy group at 9.0% ± 0.7%. After adjusting for gender and age, there was a statistically significant association between dizziness and mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8‐2.8). After adjusting for all covariates including age, ethnicity, race, gender, diabetes, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular disease, cancer, and grade level, dizziness remained an independent predictor of increased mortality (adjusted OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.36‐2.18). Conclusions Approximately 11% of adult Americans reported dizziness or balance problems in the preceding 12 months. Adults with dizziness have a greater mortality rate than nondizzy adults. Even after adjusting for covariates, there was a significant association between dizziness and mortality. Screening for dizziness as a risk factor for mortality may be warranted. Level of Evidence 2b Laryngoscope , 126:2134–2136, 2016