title: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and comorbid conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of comorbid disease in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and the relationship of comorbid disease to symptoms of vertigo, disequilibrium, and anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who had posterior semicircular canal BPPV and who had been referred for vestibular rehabilitation at a tertiary care center completed a health status questionnaire and the Vertigo Symptom Scale, answered questions about level of vertigo, and were tested on computerized dynamic posturography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects had high rates of diabetes, mild head trauma, and probable sinus disease. Balance was generally impaired, worse in diabetics and subjects with significant vestibular weakness. Subjects who smoked or had had mild head trauma had higher levels of anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comorbid conditions, particularly diabetes, mild head trauma, and sinus disease, are unusually prevalent in BPPV patients. Message: Patients with comorbid disease are at risk for having increased vertigo, anxiety, and disequilibrium compared to other patients.
authors.affiliation: Bobby R. Alford Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA. hcohen@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Helen S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Kay T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kimball
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D004856:Postural Balance; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014717:Vertigo / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*