Patients’ Experiences with Management of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: Insights from the Vestibular Disorders Association Registry

INTRODUCTION: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most frequently occurring peripheral vestibular disorder. Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for BPPV exist; however, little is known about how affected patients perceive their condition is being managed. We aimed to leverage registry data to evaluate how adults who report BPPV are managed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed of data from 1,262 adults (58.4 ± 12.6 years old, 81.1% female, 91.1% White) who were enrolled in the Vestibular Disorders Association Registry from 2014 to 2020. The following patient-reported outcomes were analyzed by proportions for those who did and did not report BPPV: symptoms experienced, falls reported, diagnostics undertaken, interventions received (eg, canalith repositioning maneuvers [CRMs], medications), and responses to interventions. RESULTS: Of the 1,262 adults included, 26% reported being diagnosed with BPPV. Many adults who reported BPPV (83%) also endorsed receiving additional vestibular diagnoses or may have had atypical BPPV. Those with BPPV underwent magnetic resonance imaging and were prescribed medications more frequently than those without BPPV (76% vs 57% [χ(2)=36.51, p<0.001] and 85% vs 78% [χ(2)=5.60, p=0.018], respectively). Falls were experienced by similar proportions of adults with and without BPPV (55% vs 56% [χ(2=)=11.26, p=0.59]). Adults with BPPV received CRMs more often than those without BPPV (86% vs 48%, χ(2)=127.23, p<0.001). More registrants with BPPV also endorsed benefit from CRMs compared to those without BPPV (51% vs 12% [χ(2)=105.30, p<0.001]). DISCUSSION: In this registry, BPPV was often reported with other vestibular disorders. Healthcare utilization was higher than would be expected with care based on the CPG. The rates of falls in those with and without BPPV are higher than previously reported. Adults with BPPV reported significant differences in how their care is managed and their overall outcomes compared to those without BPPV. CONCLUSION: Patient-reported outcomes provide useful information regarding the lived experience of adults with BPPV.