Vertigo in hospital neurology outpatient clinic: a 12-month prospective study

The aim was to determine prospectively the frequency and clinical characteristics of vertiginous syndromes in a neurology outpatient clinic of a community hospital during one-year period with 6-month follow up. The study was carried out at Department of Neurology, Varazdin General Hospital, in Varazdin County, Croatia, with a catchment population of 180,000. Data were prospectively collected from one neurologist's practice during 12-month period with 6-month follow up (May 2007 - November 2008). During the study period, 1670 patients were examined and 173 (10.3%) of them complained of vertiginous symptoms (mean age 56, range 16-89 years; 113 (65.3%) females). Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo was most common, recorded in 52 (30.1%) cases, followed by vestibular neuritis in 29 (16.8%) and other etiology in 28 (16.2%) cases. Central forms of vertigo were present in 17 (9.8%) patients. The authors conclude that vertigo of peripheral origin, i.e. benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, is the most common type of vertiginous syndromes encountered in this secondary neurological practice. Since this diagnosis allows for rapid and effective relief of patient symptoms, it is crucial that the neurologist is trained in recognizing and treating this neuro-otologic entity.