Symptomatic dizziness tied to greater risk for cause-specific mortality from diabetes, CVD, and cancer.
Dizziness is a common problem with various underlying causes and significant health consequences. The relationship between symptomatic dizziness and its manifestations with all-cause and cause-specific mortality remains unclear.
According to an Original Investigation published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, researchers have concluded that there is an association between symptomatic dizziness and increased risk for all-cause and diabetes-, CVD (cardiovascular disease) and cancer-specific mortality.
This investigation answered whether there is an association between symptomatic dizziness and mortality. The study was based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2004 and includes adults over 40 who reported symptomatic dizziness within the past 12 months.
The study included adults 40 and older who completed questions about dizziness, balance, falling, and positional dizziness in the past year. Mortality data were linked through December 31, 2019. Analysis was conducted from February to August 2023. Exposure was self-reported symptomatic dizziness. All-cause and cause-specific mortality, including CVD, diabetes, cancer, and unintentional injuries, were the primary outcomes and measures. The study used Cox proportional hazard regression models to investigate the relationship while adjusting for demographics and medical history.
Key points from this study are:
- This nationally representative cohort included 9000 middle-aged and older US adults of mean age, 61.8 years with 50.8% female).
- The prevalence of symptomatic dizziness was 23.8%.
- 18.3% reported dizziness, 14.5% reported balance problems, 5.7% reported falling, and 3.8% reported dizziness when turning in bed.
- Symptomatic dizziness adults had higher all-cause mortality at a median 16.2-year follow-up than those without (45.6% vs 27.1%)
- Symptomatic dizziness elevated risk for cause-specific mortality from diabetes, CVD and cancer with hazard ratios 1.66, 1.33 and 1.21, respectively, but not unintentional injuries (HR).
- Reporting problems with balance or falling increased all-cause, cardiovascular disease-specific, and diabetes-specific mortality risks.(HR: 1.27,1.41, 1.74 and 1.52, 1.49,2.01)
- No link found between dizziness position and mortality with HR 0.98
Concluding further, symptomatic dizziness had an association with increased risk for all-cause and diabetes-, CVD–, and cancer-specific mortality.
The ambiguity of the effect size estimate for cancer-specific mortality precludes a definitive conclusion. Further research is necessary to determine whether symptomatic dizziness indicates underlying health conditions contributing to mortality or if early intervention for imbalance and falls can decrease mortality risk.
Reference:
Lin ME, Gallagher TJ, Straughan A, Marmor S, Adams ME, Choi JS. Association of Symptomatic Dizziness With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.
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