[Vertigo, dizziness and falls in the elderly].

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to find cause of dizziness, vertigo and falls in old age and to propose treatment.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The study was conducted from October 2003 to March 2004 with 100 patients over the age of 75 years: 72 women and 28 men. They complained of unsteadiness, vertigo, or falls.

RESULTS

In this group of patients, 68% were found to have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, 9% neurologic problems, 5% Meniere disease, 4% vestibular areflexia, 8% a rare cause such as a psychiatric or vascular disorder, and no cause was found in 6%. The diagnosis of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is difficult in the elderly because vertigo is often missing and unsteadiness or falls only feeled.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that dizziness or unsteadiness in the elderly must be explored by a complete vestibular examination and treated to improve the well-being of these patients.