@article{ref1,
title="Dizziness and its association with walking speed and falls efficacy among older men and women in an urban population",
journal="Aging clinical and experimental research",
year="2019",
author="Lindell, Ellen and Kollén, Lena and Johansson, Mia and Karlsson, Therese and Rydén, Lina and Zettergren, Anna and Frandin, Kerstin and Skoog, Ingmar and Finizia, Caterina",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Dizziness is common among older people and falling is a feared complication. <br><br>AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of dizziness and its association with falls, walking speed and fear of falling, including sex differences, among 79-year-olds. Secondary purposes were to describe the relationship between dizziness and falls to number of medications and diseases. <br><br>METHOD: The study consisted of the fifth cohort of Gothenburg's H70 birth cohort studies. A sample of 662 79-year-olds (404 women, 258 men) were investigated with questions regarding dizziness, previous falls and falls efficacy [estimated according to the falls efficacy scale Swedish version (FES (S))]. Functional tests included self-selected and maximal walking speed over 20 m. <br><br>RESULTS: Dizziness was reported among 51% of the women and by 58% of the men (p = 0.12). Approximately, 40% had fallen during the past 12 months (41% women, 38% of the men, p = 0.48). Dizziness was related to a higher risk of falls among women (OR 2.63 (95% CI 1.67-4.14, p < 0.0001), but not among men (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.63-1.82, p = 0.8). Dizzy individuals had lower scores on FES (S) (p < 0.01), more medications (p < 0.001) and diseases (p < 0.001) than those without dizziness. Participants who reported dizziness walked 10% slower than participants without dizziness (p < 0.001). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Women with dizziness more often reported falls compared to women without dizziness-a trend that was not seen among men. Persons with dizziness walked slower. Many medications increased risk of falling; hence, number of medications alone might help pinpoint risk groups for falling.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1594-0667",
doi="10.1007/s40520-019-01303-6",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01303-6"
}