Clinical and cVEMP Evaluation Predict Short-Term Residual Dizziness After Successful Repositioning in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

OBJECTIVE: Residual dizziness (RD) is a frequent symptom with unknown pathogenesis, often complained about by the patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), even after a successful canalith repositioning procedure (CRP). This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the short-term RD severity and its risk factors in patients with BPPV after successful CRPs. METHODS: In total two hundred and twenty patients with BPPV after successful CRPs (W0) were prospectively followed up for 1 week (W1). Besides demographics and serial neuropsychological assessments (including dizziness handicap inventory-DHI, etc.), patients also received cervical/ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (c/oVEMP) evaluation. RD was defined as patients with dizziness or imbalance, dizziness visual analog scale (VAS) >1, and without positional vertigo or nystagmus at W1. Demographic, clinical, and VEMPs differences were compared among the three groups: patients with minor (dizziness VAS 1–3) and moderate-to-severe RD (dizziness VAS > 3) and without RD. RESULTS: The total frequency of RD at W1 was 49.1% (n = 108), with 32.3% (n = 71) minor, and 16.8% (n = 37) moderate-to-severe RD. Logistic regression analyses revealed that RD was closely associated with DHI status (OR = 2.101, P = 0.008) at W0, this effect was not present for minor RD. In addition to DHI score > 30 (OR = 4.898, P < 0.001) at W0, bilateral cVEMP absence (OR = 4.099, P = 0.005) was also an independent influential factor of moderate-to-severe RD. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the importance of RD quantified evaluation. DHI score >30 and bilateral cVEMP absence could increase the risk of short-term moderate-to-severe RD.