RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar a qualidade de vida em idosos institucionalizados com queixa de tontura e relacionar esses resultados às características da tontura e sua capacidade funcional. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo transversal analítico. Cento e dezenove idosos residentes em três instituições de longa permanência na cidade de Natal (Brasil) foram avaliados e aqueles que relataram tontura no último ano (30/25.2%) foram incluídos nesse estudo. A qualidade de vida foi avaliada pelo Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Já a capacidade funcional foi mensurada pela Escala de Equilíbrio de Berg, do Teste de Alcance Funcional, do Apoio Unipodal com olhos abertos e fechados e da Falls Efficacy Scale - International. Resultados: associações foram encontradas entre os aspectos físico, funcional e emocional e a duração da tontura (p=0,002, p=0,041 e p=0,004, respectivamente), os aspectos funcionais com a idade (p=0,031), os aspectos físicos com a presença de quedas no ultimo ano (p=0,039) e os aspectos físicos, funcionais e emocionais do Dizziness Handicap Inventory com o medo de cair (p=0,004, p<0,001 e p=0,016, respectivamente). Conclusão: idosos institucionalizados com queixa de tontura apresentam baixa percepção da qualidade de vida, sendo a idade, o tempo de duração da tontura, a presença de quedas e o medo de cair fatores importantes nesta percepção negativa.

ABSTRACT Purpose: to evaluate the quality of life in institutionalized elderly people with dizziness complaint and to relate the results to the characteristics of dizziness and functional capacity. Methods: in this cross-sectional study, one-hundred and nineteen elderly residents in three geriatric long-term care institutions in Natal city, Brazil, were evaluated. Those who had presented dizziness in the former year (30/25.2%) were included in this study. The quality of life was measured by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Functional capacity was measured by the Berg Balance Scale, the Functional Reach Test, the Unipedal Stance Test with eyes open and closed, and the Falls Efficacy Scale - International. Results: associations were found between physical, functional and emotional aspects and the duration of dizziness (p=0.002, p=0.041 and p=0.004, respectively); the functional aspects with age (p=0.031), the physical aspects with the presence of falls in the previous year (p=0.039); and the physical, functional and emotional aspects of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory with fear of falling (p=0.004, p<0.001 and p=0.016, respectively). Conclusion: institutionalized elderly with dizziness complaints had a low perception of quality of life, and the duration of dizziness, age, falls and fear of falling negatively influenced their quality of life.

Abstract Introduction Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is the most common cause of dizziness in elderly people. Recent studies have shown that the elderly present higher Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo recurrence and that vertiginous symptomatology remission varies according to comorbidities and the therapeutic techniques applied. Objective To assess the short-term effectiveness of Vestibular Rehabilitation in addition to Canalith Repositioning Maneuver on positive to negative Dix-Hallpike test, on recurrence and number of maneuvers to achieve a negative test in elderly patients with chronic Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, 7 older adults (median age: 69 years, range 65-78) underwent Canalith Repositioning Maneuver and Vestibular Rehabilitation for thirteen weeks. Seven older adults (median age: 73 years, range 65-76) in the control group received only Canalith Repositioning Maneuver. The participants were assessed at baseline (T0), one (T1), five (T5), nine (T9), and thirteen weeks (T13). We assessed the differences between the groups by Mann-Whitney and Fisher exact tests, and used the Friedman and Wilcoxon tests to determine the intragroup differences. Results No significant differences were found between groups for the positive to negative Dix-Hallpike test, recurrence, and number of maneuvers to achieve a negative test. The number of maneuvers to achieve negative Dix-Hallpike test was lower in intragroup comparisons in the experimental group. Conclusion The findings suggest that additional Vestibular Rehabilitation did not influence the positive to negative Dix-Hallpike test, recurrence, or number of maneuvers to achieve a negative test in elderly patients with chronic Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

Introduction Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is one of themost common and treatable causes of peripheral vestibular vertigo in adults. Its incidence increases with age, eventually leading to disability and a decreased quality of life. Objective The research aims to assess short-term effects of Otolith Repositioning Maneuver (ORM) on dizziness symptoms, quality of life, and postural balance in elderly people with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Methods A quasi-experimental study, which evaluated 14 elderly people that underwent the Otolith Repositioning Maneuver and reevaluation after one week. The authors performed statistical analysis by descriptive analysis of central tendency and dispersion; for pre- and post-treatment conditions, the authors used the Wilcoxon test. Results All aspects of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (physical, functional, emotional, and total scores) as well as the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) decreased after therapy (p < 0.05 and p = 0.001, respectively). However, more than half of the elderly participants did not achieve negative Dix-Hallpike. Regarding static and dynamic balance, there were significant differences in some parameters of the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance, Limits of Stability and gait assessment measured by the Dizziness Gait Index (p < 0.05). Conclusion Results reveal clinical and functional benefits in elderly people with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo submitted to Otolith Repositioning Maneuver. However, most of the participants did not overcome Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and not all aspects of postural balance improved. Therefore, a longer follow-up period and a multidisciplinary team are required to establish comprehensive care for elderly patients with dizziness complaints.