[A statistical analysis of 1300 patients with dizziness-vertigo. Its most frequent causes]

We analysed the records of the individuals who were attended because of dizziness or vertigo in the vestibular sector, with the aim of describing the epidemiological clinical profile of a group of patients with such symptoms. 1300 patients were systematically evaluated according to our neuro otological examination protocol. Diagnoses were ordered, according to the international classification reported by Drachman and later modified by Bahlo, in four categories: 1. Vertigo, 2. Instability, 3. Pre syncope and 4. Miscellaneous. Each of these classes was organised according to the topography of the lesion and these were in turn grouped by aetiologies (viral, vascular, tumoural, demyelinating, post traumatic, idiopathic, autoimmune, etc.). The data were stored and analysed in a computer database, Epi info 6.02 (OMS 1994), which was especially adapted by the researchers for the purpose.

63.1% were women. The average age was 55.5 years old (SD: 17.5, interval: 4 93). Vertigo was diagnosed in 68.9%, instability was found in 12.4%, 1.8% presented syncope and miscellaneous disorders occurred in 16.9% (of these, 64.1% had disorders of the central integrator and 16.4% were of a psychogenic origin). Of the 1300 patients, 896 presented vertigo; the positional type was seen in 54%, sustained in 6.5%, recurrent in 27.7% and 11.8% were found to have the otolithic type.

The relevance of the epidemiological work based on clinical evaluation and the thorough neuro otological examination in our medium must be highlighted. These findings were similar to those reported in the international literature in more delimited series.