Citation

Thorman IB, Schrack JA, Schubert MC. Otol. Neurotol. 2024; 45(5): 572-579.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/MAO.0000000000004185

PMID

38728561

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Studies on incidence and prevalence of vestibular disorders tend to focus on small pockets of patients recruited from specialized clinics and often exclude measures of vestibular function. The objectives of the study were to characterize patients with common vestibular disorders, estimate the prevalence of common vestibular disorders, and ascertain whether patients with vestibular disorders experience increased risks of falls and morbidity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study includes both inpatient and outpatient routine clinical care data culled from a nationally representative, population-based sample. Patients were included if their record in the TriNetX Diamond Cohort comprised at least one vestibular function test or vestibular diagnosis. The main outcome measures were diagnosis with a vestibular disorder, a fall, or a common medical comorbidity (e.g., diabetes, cerebrovascular disease).

RESULTS: The cohort includes n = 4,575,724 patients, of which 55% (n = 2,497,136) had a minimum of one vestibular diagnosis. Patients with vestibular diagnoses were 61.3 ± 16.6 years old (mean ± standard deviation), 67% women, 28% White race (69% unknown race), and 30% of non-Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (66% unknown ethnicity). The prevalence of vestibular disorders was estimated at 2.98% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.98-2.98%). Patients with vestibular diagnoses experienced a significantly greater odds of falls (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02-1.05), cerebrovascular disease (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.40-1.43), ischemic heart disease (OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.16-1.19), and diabetes (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.13-1.15), among others.

DISCUSSION: Vestibular disorders affect an estimated 3% of the U.S. population, after weighting. Patients with these disorders are at greater risk for many common, consequential medical conditions.

Language: en

Keywords

*Accidental Falls/statistics & numerical data; *Comorbidity; *Vestibular Diseases/epidemiology; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology/complications; Cohort Studies; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies