Objective To analyze the difference of clinical characteristics and vascular risk factors between patients with unexplained non-acute dizziness and headache, so that to bring new perspective on prevention of vascular risk factors and enhancement of symptoms among different patients. Methods The data of patients in the cerebrovascular disease clinic of the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University between July 1th and September 30th, 2021 were collected retrospectively. The included patients were divided into dizziness group or headache group according to the complained. The clinical characteristics and risk factors of the two groups were compared. Results A total of 273 patients were included. There were 198 cases (72.5%) in dizziness group and 75 cases (27.5%) in headache group. Compared with headache group, patients in dizziness group were older, with a shorter course of disease, and accounted for a higher proportion of patients with symptoms related to body position, higher proportion of patients with hypertension and carotid plaque, and more vascular risk factors (P<0.05). Logistic regression results showed that patients with symptoms related to body position [odds ratio (OR)=7.025, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.772, 28.488), P=0.007], at least one [OR=2.461, 95%CI (1.298, 4.664), P=0.006], two or more vascular risk factors [OR=2.314, 95%CI (1.033, 5.186), P=0.042] were independently associated with dizziness. The longer course of disease [OR=0.994, 95%CI (0.990, 0.997), P=0.001] was independently associated with headache. Conclusion Patients with non-acute unexplained dizziness and headache, especially those with dizziness, should pay more attention to the inquiry and treatment of vascular risk factors and psychopsychological factors.
Objective To explore the clinical and imaging features of patients with acute dizziness and assess their associations with 3-month prognosis. Methods We enrolled adult patients with a chief complaint of acute dizziness, who were admitted to the Neurological Clinic at the Emergency Department of West China Hospital, Sichuan University between January 1st and May 31st 2022. We collected clinical and imaging features at baseline for each patient. The primary outcome was recurrent dizziness within 3 months after index dizziness. Secondary outcome was stroke within 3 months after index dizziness. Results A total of 1 322 patients who visited the Neurological Clinic were included, of which 617 (46.7%) had a chief complaint of acute dizziness. Among 222 patients who performed emergent brain and neck CT angiography, 1 patient presented with intracerebral haemorrhage. Among the remaining 221 patients, 206 patients completed 3-month follow-up, with 76 patients reported recurrent dizziness and 7 patients had stroke (6 ischaemic, 1 hemorrhagic). The multivariate logistic regression showed that chronic dizziness duration and parenchymal hypodensity on brain CT were each associated with a higher risk of recurrent dizziness. Compared with those who did not report stroke, the stroke patients were more likely to present with hypertension, headache symptoms, and exhibit parenchymal hypodensity on baseline CT (P<0.05). Conclusions In patients with acute dizziness, those with chronic dizziness duration and parenchymal hypodensity on baseline CT were associated with a higher risk of 3-month recurrent dizziness. Acute dizziness patients experiencing 3-month stroke often have hypertension, headache symptoms, and parenchymal hypodensity on baseline CT.