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Objective: To investigate the association between vertigo and stroke in Taiwan using the Bureau of National Health Insurance research database., Methods: Information on adult patients with an index vertigo attack in 2006 was retrieved from Bureau of National Health Insurance research database. All patients with specific diagnostic codes for vertigo were included. Occurrence of stroke during a 1-year follow-up period was identified. Risk factors for stroke were examined. Using χ test, t test, and a multilevel logistic regression model, patients with vertigo were categorized into stroke and nonstroke groups for comparative analyses. An age- and sex- matched control cohort was prepared for comparison., Results: Patients with vertigo (n = 527,807) (mean age, 55.1 yr) accounted for 3.1% of the general Taiwanese adult population. The prevalence of stroke among vertigo patients of 0.5% (mean age, 67.8 yr) was slightly higher than that of the control group (0.3%; mean age, 72.3 yr; p < 0.0001). The types of stroke were ischemic (66.7%), nontypical (29.0%), and hemorrhage (4.3%). The prevalence of stroke increased with age (p < 0.001). Patients with vertigo had higher prevalence of comorbid conditions (p < 0.0001); those with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, or atrial fibrillation had a higher prevalence of stroke (p < 0.001). Hypertension was the most significant predictor of stroke (odds ratio, 3.77; 95% confidence interval, 3.36-4.23; p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Patients with vertigo had higher chance to develop stroke than the control group. Some strokes may initially manifest as peripheral vertigo, and some central vertigo may eventually evolve into a stroke. Middle aged male, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation are risk factors for subsequent stroke in vertigo patients.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiology of vertigo among the general adult population in Taiwan using the National Health Insurance claims database., Study Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Data were retrieved from the 2006 National Health Insurance claims database.Subjects and Methods. Claims data were retrieved for patients 18 years or older with a diagnosis of vertigo (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 078.81, 386.XX, or 780.4) from January to December 2006. The authors describe the prevalence and recurrence of vertigo and the medical resource utilization associated with its treatment. Logistic regression models are used to assess the independent effects of age, sex, seasonal variation, institutional level of care, and specialty of care on the risk of vertigo recurrence., Results: A total of 527,807 adult patients (mean ± SD age, 55.1 ± 17.3 years; 1:1.96 ratio of men to women) experienced vertigo in 2006. The prevalence of vertigo was 3.13 cases per 100 adults. Within 1 year of their index vertigo attack, 199,210 patients (37.7%) experienced recurrence. The prevalence and recurrence of vertigo increased significantly with age (P < .001 for both, x² test). Age, sex, seasonal variation, institutional level of care, and specialty of care had various effects on the risk of vertigo recurrence., Conclusion: Vertigo is a major health burden among the general adult population and tends to recur, particularly among older women