MEASUREMENT OF HEALTH-STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH VERTIGO

In order to assess how much disability is caused by vertigo, health st atus scores of patients referred with dizziness or vertigo were compar ed with local population normative data and with the severity of illne ss, measured by a disease-specific questionnaire. The questionnaires w ere administered by post to patients awaiting an ENT out-patient appoi ntment. There was a strong correlation (P = 0.001) between the eight d imensions of the SF-36 (Mos 36 item short-form health survey) and dise ase severity, measured by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory questionnai re. Compared with the general population, vertigo sufferers had signif icant role limitation due to physical problems and social functioning (men) and physical problems and vitality (women). General health statu s is significantly affected by both the presence and severity of verti go and the SF-36 may prove useful in assessing outcomes.