Assessment of the patients' quality of life visiting the emergency department with dizziness

Introduction: Dizziness and vertigo are among the most common complaints in the emergency department. This may require interdisciplinary cooperation due to their complex presentation in the department and the effects on the patients' quality of life. Objective: Our study aimed to assess the effect of an acute vertigo episode on the quality of life after patients' discharge from the emergency department. Method: 879 patients examined at the Semmelweis University emergency department with vertigo and dizziness were included in the study. A questionnaire, including the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), was addressed to this population. We received 308 answered questionnaires back (110 males, 198 females; mean age 61.8 years +/- 12.31 SD), which were further analyzed. Results: The most frequent diagnoses were benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, central lesions and dizziness. According to the analysis of the DHI questionnaire, a difference between physical, functional and emotional scores was shown, whereas the highest scores were registered in the physical group. The DHI questionnaire scores of patients undergoing a neurotological examination and those who did not were further compared, whereas no significant statistical difference was indicated (p = 0.97). In addition, an increase in DHI scores was seen depending on the time elapse for the definitive diagnosis. Conclusion: The absence of adequate examination and a late diagnosis of the dizziness cause have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients. Therefore, substantial investigation, early diagnosis, and detailed vestibular examina-tion are essential, but the latter should take place in justified cases.