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Background and aims: Dizziness is a common symptom at emergency departments. Studies have shown poor quality of care in acute dizziness presentations, including the overuse of computed tomography (CT) and failure to detect benign causes. This study aims to evaluate whether a management algorithm has improved the quality of care for dizzy patients at Umeå University Hospital, Sweden.

Methods: This was an interventional study using medical records to collect data for acute dizziness presentations before (period 1, 2012–2014) and after (period 2, 2016-2017) the implementation of a management algorithm (see figure). Outcomes were changes in a set of pre-defined quality markers and health economic effects.

Results: Total n=2126 and n=1487 acute dizziness presentations were identified in period 1 and 2, respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar. The proportion of patients undergoing Dix-Hallpike testing increased, 20.8% vs. 37.7%, (p<0.01), as did BPPV diagnoses, 7.6% vs. 15.3%, (p<0.01). Hospitalization became less common, 61.5% vs. 47.6% (p<0.01). The proportion undergoing any neuroradiological investigation decreased, 44.8% vs. 36.3% (p<0.01) with a shift from CT to MRI, with unchanged sensitivity for diagnosing cerebrovascular causes. The average cost for the care of one dizzy patient decreased from $2561 during period 1 to $1808 during period 2.

Conclusion: This study shows how the implementation of a management algorithm for dizzy patients can improve the quality of care and lower the expenses, without an increased number of missed stroke cases.