BACKGROUND: Vertigo in the aged is relatively common but only a few studies are available. The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical features and treatment outcome in aged patients. METHOD: A total of 240 patients of age over 70 with vertigo or dizziness who visited dizziness center of a tertiary care university hospital from January 1999 to January 2003 were studied. The patients' charts were retrospectively reviewed. Thorough otolaryngologic and neurotologic evaluations were performed in every case to determine the specific cause of dizziness. Electronystagmogram, rotating chair testing, and posturography were performed on all patients. The intensity of vertigo or dizziness was evaluated by questionnaires before and after the treatment. General vestibular rehabilitation therapy(VRT) was performed in 103 cases and it was not done on the other 46 cases. All the patients were treated with Ginko biloba. RESULTS: The average age was 76.5+/-6.2(70~88) years. In 153 case(63%), no specific causes for the vertigo or dizziness were found. The VRT group showed significant improvement in vertigo or dizziness compared to the non-VRT group by the VAS(verbal analogue scale) and ABC(Activities specific balance confidence scale) obtained three weeks and three months after the initiation of VRT. CONCLUSION: Many elderly patients with dizziness do not show any specific causes of dizziness other than old age(presbyastasis). General VRT seems to be effective treatment for this elderly group in addition to Ginkgo Biloba.
Aged ; Dizziness* ; Ginkgo biloba ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Healthcare ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertigo

BACKGROUND: Vertigo in the aged is relatively common but only a few studies are available. The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical features and treatment outcome in aged patients. METHOD: A total of 240 patients of age over 70 with vertigo or dizziness who visited dizziness center of a tertiary care university hospital from January 1999 to January 2003 were studied. The patients' charts were retrospectively reviewed. Thorough otolaryngologic and neurotologic evaluations were performed in every case to determine the specific cause of dizziness. Electronystagmogram, rotating chair testing, and posturography were performed on all patients. The intensity of vertigo or dizziness was evaluated by questionnaires before and after the treatment. General vestibular rehabilitation therapy(VRT) was performed in 103 cases and it was not done on the other 46 cases. All the patients were treated with Ginko biloba. RESULTS: The average age was 76.5+/-6.2(70~88) years. In 153 case(63%), no specific causes for the vertigo or dizziness were found. The VRT group showed significant improvement in vertigo or dizziness compared to the non-VRT group by the VAS(verbal analogue scale) and ABC(Activities specific balance confidence scale) obtained three weeks and three months after the initiation of VRT. CONCLUSION: Many elderly patients with dizziness do not show any specific causes of dizziness other than old age(presbyastasis). General VRT seems to be effective treatment for this elderly group in addition to Ginkgo Biloba.
Aged ; Dizziness* ; Ginkgo biloba ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Healthcare ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertigo