The cardiovascular aspects of a Ménière's disease population – A pilot study

INTRODUCTION: MD is considered a rare disease. An adequate model that explains MD's pathophysiology is not well established. Recently, the vascular theory of the disease has been revived. OBJECTIVES: To characterize a MD population according to its cardiovascular risk and correlate it to the MD clinical course. METHODS: In this retrospective chart study the data of 31 MD patients observed between January 2017 and April 2018 in a tertiary university hospital were reviewed. Patients included in the study were diagnosed according to the Bárány Society criteria. Lost follow-ups, patients with autoimmune disease, atopy or allergy, major psychiatric disease and migraine were excluded. Age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors, audiometric and vestibular parameters, occurrence of MD attacks in the previous 6 months, vestibular medication in course and time course of MD were recorded and compared between groups (with and without cardiovascular risk factors). RESULTS: 31 patients (61.3% females) mean aged 60.3 years (±9.7) were studied. 74% of the population had at least one risk factor and 51.6% of patients had attacks in the last 6 months. There was a statistically significant difference in the occurrence of MD attacks in the last 6 months (p = 0.014) between MD patients with and without risk factors. Mean PTA thresholds were higher and speech discrimination was lower in individuals with more cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of MD focusing on vascular risk factors may allow a better control of symptoms and result in a decreased need for ablative procedures in this disorder.