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. 2011 Jan 31;6(1):e16481.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016481.

Profiling dizziness in older primary care patients: an empirical study

Jacquelien Dros  1 , Otto R Maarsingh, Daniëlle A W M van der Windt, Frans J Oort, Gerben ter Riet, Sophia E J A de Rooij, François G Schellevis, Henriëtte E van der Horst, Henk C P M van Weert
Affiliations

Profiling dizziness in older primary care patients: an empirical study

Jacquelien Dros et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: The diagnostic approach to dizzy, older patients is not straightforward as many organ systems can be involved and evidence for diagnostic strategies is lacking. A first differentiation in diagnostic subtypes or profiles may guide the diagnostic process of dizziness and can serve as a classification system in future research. In the literature this has been done, but based on pathophysiological reasoning only.

Objective: To establish a classification of diagnostic profiles of dizziness based on empirical data.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Participants and setting: 417 consecutive patients of 65 years and older presenting with dizziness to 45 primary care physicians in the Netherlands from July 2006 to January 2008.

Methods: We performed tests, including patient history, and physical and additional examination, previously selected by an international expert panel and based on an earlier systematic review. We used the results of these tests in a principal component analysis for exploration, data-reduction and finally differentiation into diagnostic dizziness profiles.

Results: Demographic data and the results of the tests yielded 221 variables, of which 49 contributed to the classification of dizziness into six diagnostic profiles, that may be named as follows: "frailty", "psychological", "cardiovascular", "presyncope", "non-specific dizziness" and "ENT". These explained 32% of the variance.

Conclusions: Empirically identified components classify dizziness into six profiles. This classification takes into account the heterogeneity and multicausality of dizziness and may serve as starting point for research on diagnostic strategies and can be a first step in an evidence based diagnostic approach of dizzy older patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Scree plot of eigenvalues of 68 variables on demographic data, patient history, physical and additional examination, of 417 dizzy older primary care patients.
Red line: cut off point.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Distribution of patients over dizziness profiles.
Based on profile scores in highest third. More than one profile per patient possible.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Distribution of dizziness profiles by gender and age.
▪significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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