Clinical Epidemiology

Vertigo is an enigma. It is a malady for all ages. It is also a greatly misunderstood and underrated clinical condition. Most physicians see vertiginous patients in their daily practice but no consensus has yet been reached on the true extent of this highly debilitating condition. Vertigo has diverse causes and forms. Diagnosis usually relies heavily on a detailed history and thorough clinical examination, but imaging techniques and a range of vestibular tests are also helpful. Most patients can be treated conservatively with anti-vertiginous drugs and/or rehabilitation therapy, but some require surgical intervention.

Hansen’s disease (leprosy) is endemic in more than 100 countries worldwide, with over 200,000 new diagnoses each year and more than 4 million people living with some form of HD-related impairment. The World Health Organization’s ‘Global Leprosy Strategy’ timeline for Hansen’s disease elimination indicates that it will be encountered in clinical practice in endemic countries for at least another decade. Increasing north-to-south migration, global travel and overseas medical work mean that physicians in non-endemic countries will also encounter patients with Hansen’s disease, which can affect people for many years before diagnosis and after treatment. For busy clinicians, it represents a challenge, in terms of disease learning and updating knowledge and skills.

The average age of the world’s population is increasing at an unprecedented rate and this increase is changing the world. This “Silver tsunami” emphasizes the need to provide advanced training in epidemiology and increase the cadre of experts in the study of aging. This book is designed to summarize unique methodological issues relevant to the study of the epidemiology of aging, biomarkers of aging and the biology/physiology of aging and in-depth discussions of the etiology and epidemiology of common geriatric syndromes and diseases.