CONCLUSION: Based on clinical history alone, 98.4% of the population with vestibular vertigo do not qualify for a diagnosis of Menière's disease (MD). Although frequent in dizziness clinics, MD is rare in the general population. OBJECTIVE: To narrow down the prevalence of MD in the general population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A representative sample adult population sample (n=4869) was screened for moderate or severe dizziness/vertigo. Subsequently, 1003 participants completed a validated neurotologic telephone interview on vestibular vertigo (VV). Prevalence of MD was determined by stepwise application of clinical criteria according to the AAO (1995): (1) at least two vertigo attacks of > or =20 min duration, (2) unilateral hearing loss, and (3) accompanying cochlear symptoms. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence of VV was 7.4%. Of 243 participants with VV, 51 (21%) had recurrent vertigo lasting > or =20 min. Of these, nine reported unilateral hearing loss, and four had accompanying cochlear symptoms (1.6% of VV patients, population prevalence 0.12%).
CONCLUSION: Based on clinical history alone, 98.4% of the population with vestibular vertigo do not qualify for a diagnosis of Menière's disease (MD). Although frequent in dizziness clinics, MD is rare in the general population. OBJECTIVE: To narrow down the prevalence of MD in the general population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A representative sample adult population sample (n=4869) was screened for moderate or severe dizziness/vertigo. Subsequently, 1003 participants completed a validated neurotologic telephone interview on vestibular vertigo (VV). Prevalence of MD was determined by stepwise application of clinical criteria according to the AAO (1995): (1) at least two vertigo attacks of > or =20 min duration, (2) unilateral hearing loss, and (3) accompanying cochlear symptoms. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence of VV was 7.4%. Of 243 participants with VV, 51 (21%) had recurrent vertigo lasting > or =20 min. Of these, nine reported unilateral hearing loss, and four had accompanying cochlear symptoms (1.6% of VV patients, population prevalence 0.12%).
Authors: R Filipo; F Ciciarello; G Attanasio; P Mancini; E Covelli; L Agati; F Fedele; M Viccaro Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2013-12-07 Impact factor: 2.503