Prevalence of and factors related to mild and substantial dizziness in community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Dizziness is highly prevalent among older people and associated with many health factors. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of and factors related to dizziness among community-dwelling older adults in Sweden. In contrast to previous studies, the subjects with dizziness were divided into two groups, mild and substantial dizziness, according to the frequency and intensity of dizziness. METHODS: A sample of 305 older persons between 75 and 90 years of age (mean age 81 years) were interviewed and examined. Subjects with dizziness answered the University of California Los Angeles Dizziness Questionnaire and questions about provoking movements. The groups with substantial, mild, or no dizziness were compared with regard to age, sex, diseases, drugs, blood pressure, physical activity, exercises, falls, fear of falling, quality of life, general health, mobility aids, and physical performance. RESULTS: In this sample, 79 subjects experienced substantial and 46 mild dizziness. Subjects with substantial dizziness were less physically active, reported more fear of falling, falls, depression/anxiety, diabetes, stroke/TIA, heart disease, a higher total number of drugs and antihypertensive drugs, lower quality of life and general health, and performed worse physically. CONCLUSIONS: There are many and complex associations between dizziness and factors like falls, diseases, drugs, physical performance, and activity. For most of these factors, the associations are stronger in subjects with substantial dizziness compared with subjects with mild or no dizziness; therefore, it is relevant to differ between mild and substantial dizziness symptoms in research and clinical practice in the future.

Test-retest reliability of the Swedish version of the Life-Space Assessment Questionnaire among community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the test-retest reliability of the Swedish version of the Life-Space Assessment Questionnaire. DESIGN: Test-retest reliability study. SUBJECTS: A total of 298 community-dwelling subjects between 75 and 90 years of age. METHODS: The Life-Space Assessment Questionnaire was translated into Swedish. By personal interviews during home visits and two weeks later by telephone interviews the subjects were asked about their life-space mobility during the past four weeks, and how often and whether they were independent or needed assistance from another person or equipment to reach different life-space levels. RESULTS: None of the four scoring methods showed significant difference between test sessions. The mean (SD) total scores were 65 (22) and 65 (23) out of the maximum possible score of 120 at the two sessions. High levels were found for independent, assisted, and maximal life-space at both sessions. Intraclass correlation coefficients and weighted Kappa-values between 0.84-0.94 were found for the total score, the independent, and the assisted life-space levels, indicating good to excellent reliability. A lower Kappa-value was observed for the maximal life-space level, mainly owing to skewed distributions. The method error values showed that a change of 10 in the total score and a change of one level in any of the three life-space levels can be considered to indicate a real change in clinical practice. CONCLUSION: The Swedish version of the Life-Space Assessment Questionnaire can be reliably used among community-dwelling older adults.

Evaluation of physical function in individuals 11 to 14 years after anterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery--a comparison between patients and healthy reference samples and between 2 surgical techniques.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate neck-related physical function in individuals 11 to 14 years after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) surgery for degenerative cervical disk disease and to compare the long-term outcome of 2 surgical techniques, including the Cloward procedure and cervical intervertebral fusion cage. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 51 individuals, 11 years or more after ACDF, underwent testing of cervical active range of motion, hand-grip strength, static and dynamic balance, neck muscle endurance, and completed pain ratings. The participants' values were compared with values of age- and sex-matched healthy individuals to evaluate impairments. Correlations between different test scores and pain were performed. Group differences were analyzed between the 2 surgical techniques. RESULTS: Sixty-five percent and 82% exhibited impairment in ventral and dorsal neck muscle endurance, respectively. Impairment rates of 18% to 39% for cervical active range of motion, 27% to 43% for hand-grip strength, 37% for standing balance, and 35% for dynamic balance were recorded. Twenty-nine percent of the participants had impairment (>30 mm visual analog scale) in pain. There were no significant differences in physical function between the 2 surgical treatment groups (Cloward procedure or cervical intervertebral fusion cage) (P = .10-.92). CONCLUSIONS: In those studied, a large percentage of patients who had anterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery have impairments in neck-related physical function when compared 11 to 14 years after surgery with age- and sex-matched healthy reference individuals. Neck-specific function, but not balance, was statistically correlated to pain. Neck muscle endurance was most affected, and balance impairments were also present in one-third of the individuals. There were no differences in long-term physical function between the 2 surgical techniques.

Recovery after acute unilateral vestibular loss and predictors for remaining symptoms.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to follow recovery during the first 6 months after acute unilateral vestibular loss (AUVL) and to determine predictors for self-rated remaining symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two subjects were included less than 10 days after AUVL. Static and dynamic clinical balance tests, visual analogue scales, University of California Los Angeles Dizziness Questionnaire, Dizziness Beliefs Scale, European Quality of Life questionnaire, Dizziness Handicap Inventory, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were performed at inclusion and at 7 follow-ups over 6 months. Subjects rated their symptoms on visual analogue scales daily at home. Videonystagmography was performed in the acute stage and after 10 weeks. RESULTS: Decrease of symptoms and improvement of balance function were larger during the first compared with the latter part of the follow-up period. Visual analogue scale ratings for balance problems were higher than those for dizziness. A prediction model was created based on the results of 4 tests in the acute stage: standing on foam with eyes closed, standing on 1 leg with eyes open, visual analogue scale rating of vertigo at rest, and European Quality of Life questionnaire rating of health-related quality of life. The prediction model identified subjects at risk of having remaining symptoms after 6 months with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 79%. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery mainly takes place during the first weeks after AUVL. Subjects rate more balance problems than dizziness. Self-rated remaining symptoms after 6 months may be predicted by clinical balance tests and subjective ratings in the acute stage.

Long-term follow-up after acute unilateral vestibular loss and comparison between subjects with and without remaining symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: About half of the subjects in this study reported remaining symptoms 3-6 years after acute unilateral vestibular loss. Differences could be seen between subjects with and without remaining symptoms regarding health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence of self-rated remaining symptoms 3-6 years after acute unilateral vestibular loss, and to compare subjects with and without such symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Firstly, 51 subjects answered a questionnaire which included the EuroQol EQ-5D, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the University of California Los Angeles Dizziness Questionnaire, visual analogue scales and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Secondly, nine subjects with and nine without remaining symptoms participated in an extended testing procedure, including electronystagmography (ENG), determination of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) and clinical balance tests. RESULTS: In the first part of the study, 27 subjects reported remaining symptoms, 3 reported 1 additional period of symptoms and 21 had not experienced any symptoms at all in the 3-6 years since acute unilateral vestibular loss. In the second part, the group with remaining symptoms rated a lower health-related quality of life and a higher level of anxiety and depression. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of ENG tests, VEMPs or clinical balance tests.

Evidence-based practice in a multiprofessional context.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare today is a complex system with increasing needs of specific knowledge of evaluation of research and implementation into clinical practice. A critical issue is that we all apply evidence-based practice (EBP) with standardised methods and continuing and systematic improvements. EBP includes both scientific and critical assessed experience-based knowledge. For the individual, this means applying evidence-based knowledge to a specific situation, and for the organisation, it means catering for a systematic critical review and evaluation and compiling research into guidelines and programmes. In 2009, the County Council of Jönköping had approximately 335,000 inhabitants and the healthcare organisation had more than 10,000 employees. As the County Council actively promotes clinical improvement, it is interesting to explore how healthcare employees think about and act upon EBP. The aim of this survey was therefore to describe factors that facilitate or hinder the application of EBP in the clinical context. METHOD: A quantitative study was performed with a questionnaire to healthcare staff employed in the County Council of Jönköping in 2009. The questionnaire consisted of questions concerning which factors are experienced to affect the development of evidence-based healthcare. There were 59 open and closed questions, divided into the following areas: • Sources of knowledge used in practice • Barriers to finding and evaluating research reports and guidelines • Barriers to changing practice on the basis of best evidence • Facilitating factors for changing practice on the basis of best evidence • Experience in finding, evaluating and using different sources of evidence. The participants were selected using the county council's staff database and included medical, caring and rehabilitative staff within hospitals, primary care, dentistry and laboratory medicine. The inclusion criteria were permanent employment and clinical work. Invitations were sent to 5787 persons to participate in the study and 1445 persons answered the questionnaire. RESULTS: Knowledge used in daily clinical practice was mainly based on information about the patient, personal experience and local guidelines. Twenty per cent answered that they worked 'in the way they always had', and 11% responded that they used evidence from research as a basis for change. The participants experienced that EBP was not used enough in clinical healthcare and explained this with practical and structural barriers, which they thought should be better monitored by the organisation and directors. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results indicate that the scientific evidence for healthcare is not used sufficiently as a base for decisions in daily practice as well as for changing practice. This is more prominent among assistant staff. As a consequence, this might affect the care of the patients in a negative way. Increased awareness of EBP and a stronger evidence-based approach are keys in the ongoing improvement work in the county. Local guidelines seem to be a way to implement knowledge. But, as the arena of activities is complex and the employees have diverse education levels, different strategies to facilitate and promote EBP are necessary.

Influence of asymmetry of vestibular caloric response and age on balance and perceived symptoms after acute unilateral vestibular loss.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of asymmetry of vestibular caloric response and age on balance and perceived symptoms after acute unilateral vestibular loss. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Ear, nose and throat departments in three hospitals. SUBJECTS: Fifty-four patients (mean age 52 years) with acute unilateral vestibular loss participating in a randomized controlled training study were included. MAIN MEASURES: Electronystagmography testing was performed within one week after onset of symptoms and after 10 weeks. The outcome measures clinical static balance tests (sharpened Romberg's test with eyes closed, standing on foam with eyes closed, and standing on one leg with eyes open and closed) and subjective symptom ratings on a visual analogue scale were done after one week, 10 weeks and six months. The correlation between age and asymmetry of vestibular caloric response, respectively, and the outcome measures were analysed. RESULTS: Greater caloric asymmetry correlated with poorer performance at the sharpened Romberg's test and standing on one leg with eyes closed at all three follow-ups (rho = -0.31 to -0.54), and with higher symptom ratings at the 10-week and six-month follow-ups (rho = 0.30-0.60). Higher age was associated with poorer performance on the sharpened Romberg's test and standing on one leg at all three follow-ups (rho = 0.31-0.64), but did not change over time. Higher age was also associated with higher ratings of vertigo at the six-month follow-up, and less reduction of vertigo between the 10-week and six-month follow-ups (rho = 0.29-0.48). CONCLUSIONS: A higher degree of asymmetry of vestibular caloric response and high age seem to be associated with poor outcome in balance and perceived symptoms after acute unilateral vestibular loss.

Effects of home training and additional physical therapy on recovery after acute unilateral vestibular loss--a randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of additional physical therapy on recovery after acute unilateral vestibular loss given to patients receiving home training. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Ear, nose and throat departments in three hospitals. SUBJECTS: Fifty-four patients (mean age 52 years) with acute unilateral vestibular loss within the last week confirmed with electronystagmography testing were included. Patients with central neurologic or auditory symptoms or other vertigo disease were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Home training with or without additional physical therapy 12 times during 10 weeks. MAIN MEASURES: Electronystagmography testing was performed before and after the training period. Clinical static (Romberg's test, sharpened Romberg's test, standing on foam and standing on one leg) and dynamic (walking forward and backward on a line) balance tests and subjective ratings of vertigo and balance problems on a visual analogue scale were done one week, 10 weeks and six months after the start of training. RESULTS: Similar changes were seen in the two training groups. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in outcome regarding balance function or perceived symptoms were found between home training with or without additional physical therapy.