INTRODUCTION: The otologic symptoms associated with hypertension are discussed for decades, yet its etiology remains obscure. OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of vertigo in elderly patients with and without hypertension. METHOD: A prospective study of 238 individuals. We administered a questionnaire to fill in systematic data for verification of hypertension and vertigo-based protocol for audiological anamnesis used in routine care. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There were a higher proportion of women in both groups. As for age, mean age was similar between the groups between the two groups. Regarding the use of medication, all were using some kind of medication continuously. In the study population with hypertension, 106 (90%) were using antihypertensive drugs. From 99 individuals who reported dizziness 22 (15.15%) of seniors were using anti-vertigo. Hypertensive patients 58 (23.8%) subjects reported dizziness and 41 non-hypertensive (16%) subjects reported dizziness. There was no significance between vertigo and hypertension in the study group, this probably by some criteria as to exclude individuals with diseases and use of medications capable of producing dizziness, which could not be avoided during the implementation, since most of them had associated disorders, common in the elderly. CONCLUSION: It was observed in the elderly with and without hypertension, high frequency of vertigo, although we have not achieved significant relationship between vertigo and hypertension in this population.
hypertension; vertigo; aging health
