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Impact of vertigo and dizziness on self-perceived participation and autonomy in older adults: results from the KORA-Age study

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Abstract

Purpose

The impact of vertigo and dizziness on healthy ageing, and especially on participation, is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of vertigo and dizziness with self-perceived participation and autonomy in older non-institutionalised individuals, adjusted for the presence of other health conditions. Specifically, we wanted to investigate the different effects of vertigo and dizziness on specific components of participation, i.e. restrictions in indoor and outdoor autonomy, family role, social life and relationships, and work and education.

Methods

Data originate from the second wave of the German KORA-Age cohort study collected in 2012. Participation and autonomy was investigated with the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire. We used robust regression to analyse the association of vertigo and dizziness with self-perceived participation and autonomy adjusted for covariates.

Results

A total of 822 participants (49.6 % female) had a mean age of 78.1 years (SD 6.39). Participation and autonomy were significantly lower in participants with vertigo and dizziness across all domains. Adjusted for age, sex, and chronic conditions, vertigo and dizziness were significantly associated with participation restrictions in all domains except social life and relationships.

Conclusion

The results of our study indicate that vertigo and dizziness contribute to restrictions in participation and autonomy in individuals of older age. Recognising vertigo and dizziness as independent contributors to loss of autonomy and decreased chances for independent living may create new options for patient care and population health, such as the designing of complex interventions to maintain participation and autonomy.

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Acknowledgments

The KORA research platform (KORA, Cooperative Research in the Region of Augsburg) was initiated and financed by the Helmholtz Zentrum München—German Research Center for Environmental Health, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and by the state of Bavaria. The KORA-Age project was financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF FKZ 01ET0713, 01ET1003AIFB, 01ET1003A, and 01ET1003C). This project was also supported by funds from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the Grant Code 01 EO 0901. The authors bear full responsibility for the content of this publication. We thank the team at the KORA study centre in Augsburg who carried out the field work for this study and the team at the Helmholtz Zentrum München for maintaining these complex data.

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Correspondence to Martin Mueller.

Appendix

Appendix

Comparison of the original IPA items and the version we used

Original items

Items used in the KORA-Age study

Autonomy indoors

1a. My chances of getting around in my house where I want to are

x

1b. My chances of getting around in my house when I want to are

x

2a. My chances of getting washed and dressed the way I wish are

x

2b. My chances of getting washed and dressed when I want to are

x

2c. My chances of getting up and going to bed when I want to are

x

2d. My chances of going to the toilet when I wish and need to are

x

2e. My chances of eating and drinking when I want to are

x

Family role

 

3a. My chances of contributing to looking after my home the way I want to are

x

3b. My chances of getting light tasks done around the house (e.g. making tea or coffee). either by myself or by others. the way I want them done are

x

3c. My chances of getting heavy tasks done around the house (e.g. cleaning). either by myself or by others. the way I want them done are

x

3d. My chances of getting housework done. either by myself or by others. when I want them done are

x

3e. My chances of getting minor repairs and maintenance work done in my house and garden. either by myself or by others. the way I want them done are

x

3f. My chances of fulfilling my role at home as I would like are

x

4a. My chances of choosing how I spend my own money are

x

Autonomy outdoors

1c. My chances of visiting relatives and friends when I want to are

x

1d. My chances of going on the sort of trips and holidays I want to are

x

5a. My chances of using leisure time the way I want to are

x

6 g. My chances of seeing people as often as I want are

x

10. My chances of living life the way I want to are

x

Social life and relationships

6a. My chances of talking to people close to me on equal terms are

x

6b. The quality of my relationships with people who are close to me

x

6c. The respect I receive from people who are close to me is

x

6d. My relationships with acquaintances are

x

6e. The respect I receive from acquaintances is

x

6f. My chances of having an intimate relationship are

 

7a. My chances of helping or supporting people in any way are (new item)

x

Work and education

8a. My chances of getting or keeping a paid or voluntary job that I would like to do are

xa

8b. My chances of doing my paid or voluntary work the way I want to are

xa

8c. My contacts with other people at my paid or voluntary work are

xa

8d. My chances of achieving or keeping the position that I want. in my paid or voluntary work are

xa

8e. My chances of getting different paid or voluntary work are

xa

9a. My chances of getting the education or training I want are

x

  1. aThese items were collapsed into one question: “My chances of doing paid or voluntary work are”

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Mueller, M., Strobl, R., Jahn, K. et al. Impact of vertigo and dizziness on self-perceived participation and autonomy in older adults: results from the KORA-Age study. Qual Life Res 23, 2301–2308 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-014-0684-x

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