TABLE 1.
Characteristics of 907 Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Dizzinessa,b
| Characteristic | Serious neurologic diagnoses (n=49)c | Other diagnoses (n=858)d | Total (N=907) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (y), mean ± SD | 71±13 | 58±19 | 59±19 | <.001 |
| Women | 17 (35) | 512 (60) | 529 (58) | .001 |
| Race/ethnicity | .07 | |||
| White | 28 (57) | 397 (46) | 425 (47) | |
| Asian | 18 (37) | 228 (27) | 246 (27) | |
| Black | 3 (6) | 106 (12) | 109 (12) | |
| Hispanic | 0 | 43 (5) | 43 (5) | |
| Other | 0 | 84 (10) | 84 (9) | |
| Comorbidities | ||||
| Hypertension | 36 (73) | 411 (48) | 447 (49) | .001 |
| Hyperlipidemia | 24 (49) | 227 (26) | 251 (28) | .001 |
| Diabetes | 7 (14) | 124 (14) | 131 (14) | >.99 |
| CAD | 10 (20) | 81 (9) | 91 (10) | .02 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 8 (16) | 69 (8) | 77 (8) | .06 |
| Current smoker | 6 (12) | 64 (7) | 70 (8) | .26 |
| Previous stroke | 8 (16) | 46 (5) | 54 (6) | .006 |
| CHF | 1 (2) | 24 (3) | 25 (3) | >.99 |
| Previous TIA | 1 (2) | 9 (1) | 10 (1) | .43 |
| Migraines | 3 (6) | 51 (6) | 54 (6) | >.99 |
| Recent trauma | 3 (6) | 46 (5) | 49 (5) | .74 |
| Psychiatric history | 3 (6) | 118 (14) | 121 (13) | .19 |
| Medications | ||||
| Antiplatelets | 18 (37) | 194 (23) | 212 (23) | .04 |
| Anticoagulants | 6 (12) | 49 (6) | 55 (6) | .11 |
CAD = coronary artery disease; CHF = congestive heart failure; NOS = not otherwise specified; TIA = transient ischemic attack.
Data are presented as No. (percentage) of patients unless indicated otherwise.
Serious neurologic diagnoses encompass a composite of ischemic stroke, TIA, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage, epidural hemorrhage, brain neoplasm, seizure, demyelinating disease, and brain abscess/meningitis.
Other prespecified diagnoses include peripheral vertigo NOS, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular neuronitis, Meniere disease, concussion, migraine, gait disorder NOS, orthostasis/presyncope, syncope, dizziness NOS, psychiatric disorder NOS, arrhythmia, acute coronary syndrome, stable angina, congestive heart failure exacerbation, hypertensive emergency, drug or substance ingestion/withdrawal, hypoglycemia, electrolyte disorder, anemia or gastrointestinal bleeding, systemic infection, and other.