Disability perception in Menière's disease: when, how much and why?
The purpose of the study was to evaluate self-perceived handicap in patients with definite Menière's disease (MD). A cross-sectional study was conducted. To examine the self-perception of disability, participants completed a DHI (Dizziness Handicap Inventory). Parameters compared with DHI scores: sex, age, unilateral/bilateral affectation, time elapsed since the onset of symptoms, pure-tone average (PTA), stages of MD, audiometric change (last 6 months), PTA in low frequencies (PTAl) and audiometric change in PTAl, subjective perception of fluctuating hearing threshold, tinnitus between attacks, number of vertiginous episodes (last 6 months), time elapsed since last attack, subjective perception of instability intercrises and Tumarkin attacks. 90 patients were included; they completed a total of 104 questionnaires. DHI scores ranged from 2 to 100 (average: 47.08, SD 24.45). In 29 cases (27.9 %) the disability perception was mild, in 43 (41.3 %) moderate, and in 32 (30.8 %) severe. Correlation between disability perception and some vestibular symptoms was found: number of typical attacks (last 6 months), time elapsed since last attack, instability intercrises and Tumarkin attacks. No relationship was found with the rest of variables. Disability perception in patients with MD depends primarily on vestibular symptoms (particularly, instability and frequency of attacks). So, we suggest to design a new staging system of MD taking into account both auditory criteria and also vestibular symptoms.
Division of Neurotology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Travesía da Choupana, s/n, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. andres.soto@usc.es.|Department of Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. andres.soto@usc.es.
Andres
A
Soto-Varela
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Belen
B
Huertas-Pardo
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Pilar
P
Gayoso-Diz
Division of Neurotology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Travesía da Choupana, s/n, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.|Department of Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Sofia
S
Santos-Perez
Department of Pathology and Forensic Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Ines
I
Sanchez-Sellero
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
DHI; Disability; Instability; Menière’s disease; Staging