Health-related quality of life and disability in patients with acute unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders

AbstractIntroductionHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) is used to denote that portion of the quality of life that is influenced by the person's health.ObjectivesTo compare the HRQoL of individuals with vestibular disorders of peripheral origin by analyzing functional, emotional and physical disabilities before and after vestibular treatment.MethodsA prospective, non randomized case-controlled study was conduced in the ENT Department, between January 2015 and December 2015. All patients were submitted to customize a 36 item of health survey on quality of life, short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36) and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) for assessing the disability. Individuals were diagnosed with acute unilateral vestibular peripheral disorders classified in 5 groups: vestibular neuritis, Ménière Disease (MD), Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), cochlear-vestibular dysfunction (other than MD), or other type of acute peripheral vertigo (as vestibular migraine).ResultsThere was a statistical significant difference for each parameter of DHI score (the emotional, functional and physical) between the baseline and one month both in men and women, but with any statistical significant difference between 7 days and 14 days. It was found a statistical significant difference for all eight parameters of SF-36 score between the baseline and one month later both in men and women; the exception was the men mental health perception. The correlation between DHI and SF-36 scores according to diagnostics type pointed out that the Spearman's correlation coefficient was moderate correlated with the total scores of these instruments.ConclusionThe DHI and the SF-36 are useful, proved practical and valid instruments for assessing the impact of dizziness on the quality of life of patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders