Physical activity negatively associated with symptomatic dizziness: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Dizziness is a prevalent complaint in clinical settings; however, its relationship with physical activity remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the link between physical activity levels and symptomatic dizziness in a cohort of adult participants. Methods We...

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Main Authors: Jiqiang Zhu, Xianfeng Li, Dongxia Sun, Kuo Geng, Mengcui Wei, Jia Liu, Jing Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22808-y
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author Jiqiang Zhu
Xianfeng Li
Dongxia Sun
Kuo Geng
Mengcui Wei
Jia Liu
Jing Lu
author_facet Jiqiang Zhu
Xianfeng Li
Dongxia Sun
Kuo Geng
Mengcui Wei
Jia Liu
Jing Lu
author_sort Jiqiang Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Dizziness is a prevalent complaint in clinical settings; however, its relationship with physical activity remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the link between physical activity levels and symptomatic dizziness in a cohort of adult participants. Methods We used data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the United States. Activity and dizziness data were obtained using physical activity and balance questionnaires. The participants were divided into three subgroups, Group 1 (sedentary: almost no engagement in any form of aerobic or anaerobic exercise in the past 30 days), Group 2 (moderate: at least 10 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity in the past 30 days, which results in light perspiration or a minor-to-moderate rise in heart and breathing rates), and Group 3 (vigorous: engaging in at least 10 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise over the last 30 days, which leads to substantial sweating or a pronounced increase in both breathing and heart rates). Multivariable logistic regression and stratified interaction analyses were used to examine the association between physical activity and symptomatic dizziness. Results A total of 6815 participants were enrolled, comprising 3446 males (50.6%) and 3369 females (49.4%), with a median age of 60.6±13.3 years. Our study revealed a negative association between physical activity and the prevalence of symptomatic dizziness after multivariate adjustment (Group 2, OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.66-0.87, p<0.001; Group 3, OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.64-0.90, p=0.001). Further exploratory subgroup analysis showed no statistical significance (all P-values for interaction were greater than 0.05). Conclusion The study found that physical activity is negatively associated with the prevalence of symptomatic dizziness in the US adult population.
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spelling doaj-art-7feb1dcd95434ffd8b497405921f324f2025-08-20T02:20:25ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-04-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-22808-yPhysical activity negatively associated with symptomatic dizziness: a cross-sectional studyJiqiang Zhu0Xianfeng Li1Dongxia Sun2Kuo Geng3Mengcui Wei4Jia Liu5Jing Lu6Neurology, Beijing HuaSheng Rehabilitation HospitalNeurology, Beijing HuaSheng Rehabilitation HospitalNeurology, Beijing HuaSheng Rehabilitation HospitalNeurology, Beijing HuaSheng Rehabilitation HospitalNeurology, Beijing HuaSheng Rehabilitation HospitalNeurology, Beijing HuaSheng Rehabilitation HospitalTraditional Chinese Medicine, Xianghe County Traditional Chinese Medicine HospitalAbstract Background Dizziness is a prevalent complaint in clinical settings; however, its relationship with physical activity remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the link between physical activity levels and symptomatic dizziness in a cohort of adult participants. Methods We used data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the United States. Activity and dizziness data were obtained using physical activity and balance questionnaires. The participants were divided into three subgroups, Group 1 (sedentary: almost no engagement in any form of aerobic or anaerobic exercise in the past 30 days), Group 2 (moderate: at least 10 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity in the past 30 days, which results in light perspiration or a minor-to-moderate rise in heart and breathing rates), and Group 3 (vigorous: engaging in at least 10 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise over the last 30 days, which leads to substantial sweating or a pronounced increase in both breathing and heart rates). Multivariable logistic regression and stratified interaction analyses were used to examine the association between physical activity and symptomatic dizziness. Results A total of 6815 participants were enrolled, comprising 3446 males (50.6%) and 3369 females (49.4%), with a median age of 60.6±13.3 years. Our study revealed a negative association between physical activity and the prevalence of symptomatic dizziness after multivariate adjustment (Group 2, OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.66-0.87, p<0.001; Group 3, OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.64-0.90, p=0.001). Further exploratory subgroup analysis showed no statistical significance (all P-values for interaction were greater than 0.05). Conclusion The study found that physical activity is negatively associated with the prevalence of symptomatic dizziness in the US adult population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22808-yPhysical activitySymptomatic dizzinessNHANES
spellingShingle Jiqiang Zhu
Xianfeng Li
Dongxia Sun
Kuo Geng
Mengcui Wei
Jia Liu
Jing Lu
Physical activity negatively associated with symptomatic dizziness: a cross-sectional study
BMC Public Health
Physical activity
Symptomatic dizziness
NHANES
title Physical activity negatively associated with symptomatic dizziness: a cross-sectional study
title_full Physical activity negatively associated with symptomatic dizziness: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Physical activity negatively associated with symptomatic dizziness: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Physical activity negatively associated with symptomatic dizziness: a cross-sectional study
title_short Physical activity negatively associated with symptomatic dizziness: a cross-sectional study
title_sort physical activity negatively associated with symptomatic dizziness a cross sectional study
topic Physical activity
Symptomatic dizziness
NHANES
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22808-y
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