Clinical Observations of Elderly Patients with Vertigo and/or Dizziness (1st Report) —With Special Reference to Statistical Observations —

Among the 736 patients seen in the Neurootological Clinic of the Toyama Medical & Pharmaceutical University Hospital during 1981-1982, 152 (20.7%) were over 60 years of age with vertigo, dizziness and/or dysequilibrium. The clinical characteristics of this group of elderly patients were analyzed statistically. 1) The incidence of vertigo due to central nervous system lesions, especially cerebrovascular disorders, increased with age, while that of peripheral vestibular lesions, such as Meniere's disease, sudden deafness or BPPV, decreased with age. The ratio of central to peripheral vestibular lesions was 2:1 in this group of elderly patients. 2) In the elderly patients with cerebrovascular disorders, the Schellong test was often positive, indicating autonomic dysfunction of blood flow autoregulation.