Laboratory of Vestibular NeuroAdaptation, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
VEDA Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA), Portland, OR, USA.
J Vestib Res. 2022;32(6):541-551. doi: 10.3233/VES-220022.
Geographical location is known to affect health outcomes; however, evidence regarding whether location affects healthcare for persons suspected to have vestibular dysfunction is lacking.
To investigate whether location affects healthcare seeking and outcomes for adults with symptoms of vestibular pathology.
We assessed for regional disparities associated with demographics, diagnosis, chronological factors, and financial expenditures from Americans who participated in the Vestibular Disorders Association registry (N = 905, 57.4±12.5 years, 82.7% female, 94.8% White, and 8.1% Hispanic or Latino). Respondents were grouped per geographical regions defined by the United States Census Bureau.
There were no significant between-region differences for age (p = 0.10), sex (p = 0.78), or ethnicity (p = 0.24). There were more Asian respondents in the West versus the Midwest (p = 0.05) and more Black respondents in the South versus the West (p = 0.05). The time to first seek care was shorter in the Northeast (17.3 [SD = 49.5] weeks) versus the South (42.4 [SD = 83.7] weeks), p = 0.015. The time from the first healthcare visit to receiving a final diagnosis was shorter in the Northeast (46.5 [SD = 75.4] weeks) versus the South (68.9 [SD = 89.7] weeks), p = 0.015. Compared to the Midwest, fewer respondents in the Northeast reported "no" out-of-pocket financial impact, p = 0.039.
Geographical location affects healthcare seeking and outcomes for persons suspected to have vestibular dysfunction.
地理位置已知会影响健康结果；然而，关于地理位置是否会影响疑似前庭功能障碍患者的医疗保健服务，目前尚无相关证据。
调查地理位置是否会影响有前庭病理症状的成年人寻求医疗保健服务和治疗结果。
我们评估了美国前庭疾病协会登记处（N=905，年龄 57.4±12.5 岁，82.7%为女性，94.8%为白人，8.1%为西班牙裔或拉丁裔）参与者的人口统计学、诊断、时间因素和财务支出方面的区域差异。根据美国人口普查局的定义，将受访者按地理位置分组。
不同区域间的年龄（p=0.10）、性别（p=0.78）或种族（p=0.24）均无显著差异。与中西部相比，西部的亚裔受访者更多（p=0.05），与西部相比，南部的非裔受访者更多（p=0.05）。首次就诊的时间在东北部（17.3[SD=49.5]周）比南部（42.4[SD=83.7]周）短，p=0.015。从首次就诊到获得最终诊断的时间在东北部（46.5[SD=75.4]周）比南部（68.9[SD=89.7]周）短，p=0.015。与中西部相比，东北部报告“无”自付经济影响的受访者比例较低，p=0.039。
地理位置会影响疑似前庭功能障碍患者寻求医疗保健服务和治疗结果。
