Association between Unexplained Dizziness and Lipid Levels among Older Individuals

Abstract

Background: Dizziness is one of the most common problems encountered by older people as a result of age-related physical deterioration. It causes falls and disability. The etiology of dizziness can be identified in most cases, remains unclear in some patients. The association between lipid levels and dizziness are still debatable. Objective: We aimed to determine factors associated with unexplained dizziness and the association of unexplained dizziness with lipid levels in older patients. Method: This case-control study was based on data of 1,011 patients aged ≥ 55 years who visited the outpatient department of Rajavithi Hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2020 and had available data on at least one parameter on the lipid profile in 2020. The control groups were randomized with a 1:2 case-control ratio using a computer. Result: The mean age was 67.77 years (SD = 9.10). This study included 337 patients with diagnosed dizziness and giddiness (ICD-10 code R42) by physicians, whereas 674 participants did not have dizziness. Chi-Square test, independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test revealed that age (p < 0.001), female sex (p < 0.001), number of chronic health conditions (p < 0.001), numbers of lipid-lowering (p < 0.001), hypoglycemic (p < 0.001), and antihypertensive medications (p < 0.001), and total cholesterol (p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (p = 0.02) and high-density lipoprotein levels (HDL) (p < 0.001) were independently associated with unexplained dizziness. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that age (Adj.OR 1.072, 95%CI 1.053-1.092, p < 0.001), female (Adj.OR 2.333, 95%CI 1.664-3.271, p < 0.001), and number of chronic health conditions (Adj.OR 0.470, 95%CI 0.399-0.554, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with unexplained dizziness. Conclusion: There are nine factors solely associated with unexplained dizziness among older people, age, female, number of chronic health conditions, number of lipids lowering drugs, hypoglycemic drugs and antihypertensive drugs, as well as total cholesterol, LDL and HDL levels. However, after combine all factors together, lipid levels were not significantly associated with dizziness. Age, female and number of chronic health conditions are associated with dizziness.