Vertigo: epidemiologic aspects

Abstract

Vertigo is a frequent symptom in the general population with a 12-month prevalence of 5% and an incidence of 1.4% in adults. Its prevalence rises with age and is about two to three times higher in women than in men. The epidemiology of vertigo and underlying specific vestibular disorders is still an underdeveloped field despite its usefulness for clinical decision making and its potential for improving patient care. In this article, the authors give an overview on the epidemiology of vertigo as a symptom and of four specific vestibular disorders: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular migraine, Ménière's disease, and vestibular neuritis.