The Role of Comorbidities in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

PURPOSE

To assess the correlation between the comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders, hearing loss, hyperlipidemia, and vitamin D deficiency and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and to determine the high-risk groups for recurrence of symptoms.

DESIGN

Descriptive analytical study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who met the inclusion criteria underwent complete ear, nose, and throat examination, including Dix-Hallpike test and roll-over test and blood pressure recording. Investigations included pure tone audiometry, random blood sugar/fasting blood sugar, serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, fasting serum total cholesterol, and serum vitamin D levels. Patients were followed up for a period of 6 months to 1 year.

RESULTS

Older age-group has an increased risk of BPPV and recurrence of symptoms. About 45.1% of the patients with BPPV who were detected to have symptoms of hypertension were also more common with hypertensive. Diabetes mellitus was found to have an increased risk of BPPV and its recurrence. The presence of other comorbidities, such as abnormal thyroid function test (9%), sensorineural hearing loss (14%), hypercholesterolemia (46%), and vitamin D deficiency (79%) didn't show any significant risk for recurrence.

CONCLUSION

The presence of comorbidities worsens the status of BPPV, causing more frequent otolith detachment. Hence, it increases the risk of recurrence even after successful repositioning maneuver. Patients presenting with BPPV should therefore be evaluated and treated for these comorbidities along with the repositioning maneuvers.