Statins may help prevent stroke recurrence
September 20, 2015
Individuals with vestibular dysfunction were more likely to report having dizziness and a history of falls. The 26.8 percent of participants who had symptoms of vestibular dysfunction, including dizziness, had an eight-fold increase in the odds of falling. Individuals who were asymptomatic also had significantly increased odds of falling. In addition, participants with vestibular dysfunction had an increased risk of hearing loss, which likely reflects the similar anatomic locations of the vestibular and hearing organs as well as their common blood supply.
"These findings suggest the importance of diagnosing and treating vestibular deficits to reduce the burden of fall-related injuries and deaths," the authors write. "Given the high prevalence of this impairment, notably among the elderly, and the extraordinary costs associated with falls (exceeding $20 billion annually), screening for vestibular dysfunction in assisted living or nursing home facilities, for example, could be a life-saving and cost-effective practice. Screening may be particularly effective in groups at heightened risk of vestibular dysfunction, specifically non-whites, individuals with less than a high school education, people with diabetes and the hearing impaired."
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