The Laryngoscope C 2015 The American Laryngological, V
Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.
Letter to the Editor
In Reference to Impact of Dizziness and Obesity on the Prevalence of Falls and Fall-Related Injuries
Dear Editor, Lin and Bhattachryya1 analyzed National Health Interview Survey data, and showed that adults reporting dizziness were more likely to have fallen in the past year, and more likely to have been injured by falling. However, both falls and dizziness are more common in the elderly. Thus, it would seem essential to control for age in a study like this. A multivariate analysis could have determined whether dizziness is an independent predictor of falls and injuries after controlling for age. If so, it would be interesting to know whether there was an interaction between age and dizziness (for example, does dizziness confer increased risk across the age spectrum or only to the elderly). A stratified data presenta-
tion showing increased risk (if any) associated with dizziness for each of several age bands would be useful, as would some analysis of the role of sex as a risk factor for falls. If dizziness does not predict fall risk after age is accounted for, that would also be important information. ROBERT A. DOBIE, MD Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas
BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Lin HW, Bhattachryya N. Impact of dizziness and obesity on the prevalence of falls and fall-related injuries. Laryngoscope 2014;124:2797–2801.
DOI: 10.1002/lary.25208
Laryngoscope 125: October 2015
E350
Dobie et al.: Letter to the Editor
Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.
Letter to the Editor
In Reference to Impact of Dizziness and Obesity on the Prevalence of Falls and Fall-Related Injuries
Dear Editor, Lin and Bhattachryya1 analyzed National Health Interview Survey data, and showed that adults reporting dizziness were more likely to have fallen in the past year, and more likely to have been injured by falling. However, both falls and dizziness are more common in the elderly. Thus, it would seem essential to control for age in a study like this. A multivariate analysis could have determined whether dizziness is an independent predictor of falls and injuries after controlling for age. If so, it would be interesting to know whether there was an interaction between age and dizziness (for example, does dizziness confer increased risk across the age spectrum or only to the elderly). A stratified data presenta-
tion showing increased risk (if any) associated with dizziness for each of several age bands would be useful, as would some analysis of the role of sex as a risk factor for falls. If dizziness does not predict fall risk after age is accounted for, that would also be important information. ROBERT A. DOBIE, MD Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas
BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Lin HW, Bhattachryya N. Impact of dizziness and obesity on the prevalence of falls and fall-related injuries. Laryngoscope 2014;124:2797–2801.
DOI: 10.1002/lary.25208
Laryngoscope 125: October 2015
E350
Dobie et al.: Letter to the Editor
