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Dizzy - Why Not Take a Walk? Low Level Physical Activity Improves Quality of Life among Elderly with Dizziness.

Kristensson Ekwall, Anna LU ; Sand, Åsa and Magnusson, Måns LU orcid (2009) In Gerontology 55. p.652-659
Abstract
Background: Dizziness is a very common complaint. The frequency of dizziness increases with age. It affects quality of life negatively for older persons in several ways. Objectives: This study intended to investigate which variables (physical activity, loneliness, health complaints, need of help for daily living and falls) differed between those with and without dizziness and also to investigate which factors affected quality of life among older persons with dizziness. Method: An age-stratified, randomised sample of senior citizens - aged 75 or older - living in the south of Sweden (n = 4,360) answered a questionnaire concerning demographic data, social network, health complaints and diseases, feelings of loneliness, quality of life (Short... (More)
Background: Dizziness is a very common complaint. The frequency of dizziness increases with age. It affects quality of life negatively for older persons in several ways. Objectives: This study intended to investigate which variables (physical activity, loneliness, health complaints, need of help for daily living and falls) differed between those with and without dizziness and also to investigate which factors affected quality of life among older persons with dizziness. Method: An age-stratified, randomised sample of senior citizens - aged 75 or older - living in the south of Sweden (n = 4,360) answered a questionnaire concerning demographic data, social network, health complaints and diseases, feelings of loneliness, quality of life (Short Form 12), frequency of falls and activities. Results: Dizziness was associated with an increased risk of falling. Falls in the last 3 months were reported in 31% of the subjects with dizziness compared to 15% among those without (p < 0.001). Dizziness also correlated with depression, with 42.5% feeling depressed among the elderly reporting dizziness as compared with 13.2%. Exercise, both light (i.e. go for a walk) or heavy (i.e. work in the garden), correlated with reduced risk of low quality of life among older, dizzy persons, both mental (light exercise OR 0.58; heavy OR 0.48) and physical (light OR 0.62; heavy OR 0.21). The proportion of dizzy persons doing light exercise was 75.6% versus 87.4% among the not dizzy (p < 0.001). Exercise reduces the risk of falling and the risk of being depressed, and increases quality of life. Conclusion: Even light exercise seems beneficial both for improving quality of life and to decrease the risk of falling, which in turn will lower the mortality rate. Older persons reporting dizziness should be encouraged and perhaps helped to exercise. If one could increase physical activity among the elderly, it would reduce the number of falls, diminish medical costs, suffering for the individual, and be of paramount medicosocial importance for society. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Gerontology
volume
55
pages
652 - 659
publisher
Karger
external identifiers
  • wos:000271534300008
  • pmid:19707007
  • scopus:70449519039
ISSN
1423-0003
DOI
10.1159/000235812
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Gerontology and Caring Sciences (Closed 2012) (013220200), Centre for Educational Development (CED) (018005300), Otorhinolaryngology (Lund) (013044000), Caring Sciences (Closed 2012) (016514020) Department affilation moved from v1000887 (CED - Centre for Educational Development) to v1000942 (Division for Higher Education Development) on 2016-03-31 08:48:52.
id
d52c006d-d6d8-476d-af58-3d77ee3a94e3 (old id 1469345)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19707007?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:56:07
date last changed
2022-03-31 00:37:50
@article{d52c006d-d6d8-476d-af58-3d77ee3a94e3,
  abstract     = {{Background: Dizziness is a very common complaint. The frequency of dizziness increases with age. It affects quality of life negatively for older persons in several ways. Objectives: This study intended to investigate which variables (physical activity, loneliness, health complaints, need of help for daily living and falls) differed between those with and without dizziness and also to investigate which factors affected quality of life among older persons with dizziness. Method: An age-stratified, randomised sample of senior citizens - aged 75 or older - living in the south of Sweden (n = 4,360) answered a questionnaire concerning demographic data, social network, health complaints and diseases, feelings of loneliness, quality of life (Short Form 12), frequency of falls and activities. Results: Dizziness was associated with an increased risk of falling. Falls in the last 3 months were reported in 31% of the subjects with dizziness compared to 15% among those without (p &lt; 0.001). Dizziness also correlated with depression, with 42.5% feeling depressed among the elderly reporting dizziness as compared with 13.2%. Exercise, both light (i.e. go for a walk) or heavy (i.e. work in the garden), correlated with reduced risk of low quality of life among older, dizzy persons, both mental (light exercise OR 0.58; heavy OR 0.48) and physical (light OR 0.62; heavy OR 0.21). The proportion of dizzy persons doing light exercise was 75.6% versus 87.4% among the not dizzy (p &lt; 0.001). Exercise reduces the risk of falling and the risk of being depressed, and increases quality of life. Conclusion: Even light exercise seems beneficial both for improving quality of life and to decrease the risk of falling, which in turn will lower the mortality rate. Older persons reporting dizziness should be encouraged and perhaps helped to exercise. If one could increase physical activity among the elderly, it would reduce the number of falls, diminish medical costs, suffering for the individual, and be of paramount medicosocial importance for society.}},
  author       = {{Kristensson Ekwall, Anna and Sand, Åsa and Magnusson, Måns}},
  issn         = {{1423-0003}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{652--659}},
  publisher    = {{Karger}},
  series       = {{Gerontology}},
  title        = {{Dizzy - Why Not Take a Walk? Low Level Physical Activity Improves Quality of Life among Elderly with Dizziness.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000235812}},
  doi          = {{10.1159/000235812}},
  volume       = {{55}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}