Dizziness and vertigo are among the most common symptoms occurring in clinical practice. However, the data on the main causes of dizziness and vertigo remain contradictory. We have analyzed the causes of dizziness in 590 outpatients who were referred to the neurologist. The most common causes of vertigo and dizziness in outpatient practice were benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) (33.9 %), phobic postural vertigo (PPV) (21.4 %), Ménière’s disease/delayed endolymphatic hydrops (20 %), vestibular neuronitis/labyrinthitis (8.1 %), and vestibular migraine (4.1 %). Stroke as a cause of vertigo or dizziness was diagnosed only in 0.8 % of patients. Peripheral vestibular disorders were the most frequent cause of vertigo and dizziness in all age groups of patients: in patients younger than 45 years they were diagnosed in 57 % and in patients older than 60 years in 63.3 % of cases. PPV was the second most common cause of dizziness in patients younger than 45 years (37.4 %) but was established only in 7.6 % of patients older than 60 years. Most of the causes of vertigo and dizziness can be reliably diagnosed with bedside examination while laboratory investigation can be considered as an important but complementary entity.

The process of aging is caused by the early development of chronic complications and diversity of morphological and functional changes of organs and systems. Therefore the provision of preventive and curative care of this category of citizens has significant clinical and organizational features. Aim — To identify the main problems of medical care for the elderly and to examine the medical care. Material and Methods — 250 physicians of various specialties of medical institutions of the Saratov region on health care of the elderly in out-patient clinics have been surveyed by specially designed questionnaires. The state of receiving care in out-patient clinics has been studied among the elderly and the senile patients (n=568) by questioning. Results — The majority of physicians recognize the importance of the problem of increasing the quality of care for the elderly. The development of assistance of gerontological profile and the need for optimization of rendering out-patient care for this category of population in the central clinics and regional medical institutions. Conclusion — The level of satisfaction of elderly patients depends on the age characteristics, gender, health and social status and the place of residence of the study group.
Irina G. Novokreshchenova, Inga K. Senchenco Quality of medical care for the elderly in out-patient conditions according to the sociological survey // Russian Open Medical Journal, Vol. 4, Issue 1, 2015, pp. 0-0