Clinical consequences of orthostatic dizziness in the general population

Background: Orthostatic dizziness (OD) is a common complaint in general practice. Little is known, however, about its impact on postural stability in affected patients. The aim of this study was to assess medical consequences of OD in the general population, such as syncope, falls and trauma due to falls. Methods: We conducted a two-stage population-based survey on dizziness and vestibular vertigo with a representative sample of the adult population in Germany (n=4869). A history of moderate or severe dizziness/vertigo was reported by 1403 out of 4869 subjects. Subsequently, 825 men and women completed a validat…