DIZZINESS AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN GERIATRIC POPULATION IMPACTING FUNCTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STATUS

Objective: To determine factors associated with dizziness/vertigo in the elderly population. (Factors include demographic,depression, living environment and activity level)Material and Methods: Descriptive Cross sectional & Analytical study design was used. Healthy elderly populationwas included for data collection of Rawalpindi and Islamabad (Pakistan). 200 elderly were recruited in study. A pilotstudy (n=20) was conducted to validate the DHI. Different assessment tools were used to assess association i.e. TimeUp and Go Test and Geriatric Depression Scale. The data was analyzed and chi square and correlation test was usedto assess association and correlation respectively.Results: The results indicate that females (32.61 ± 23.70) are more prone to dizziness as compared to males (17.85± 21.979). There is no association (0.819) between living environment and dizziness but strong association is presentbetween activity and dizziness, and disease status of elderly population. Approximately 30% participants suffer fromdizziness. Depression has no significant effect on the individuals with dizziness.Conclusion: Elderly females are more prone to develop dizziness in comparison to males. Activity level in elderly populationcan influence dizziness. Improved activity level can reduce risk of developing dizziness in elderly population. Noassociation was found between dizziness and depression though increasing age has a greater impact of developingsymptoms of dizziness.