Rizk, Habib G.

ABSTRACT Objective To derive precise estimates of anxiety and depressive disorder prevalence in patients with common vestibular disorders. Data Sources CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS. Review Methods This systematic review and meta‐analysis was reported per PRISMA guidelines. Outcomes included continuous measures (mean), proportions (%), and relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals. Results Eighty‐five studies ( n = 764,403) examining anxiety, depression, and vestibular disorders in adults were included. Mean ages were 50.3 (vestibular) and 46.7 (control); females comprised 63.8% and 64.3%, respectively. Patients with vestibular disorders had significantly higher rates and risks of anxiety (31.4% vs. 8.3%, p < 0.0001; RR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.1–2.0) and depression (28.3% vs. 4.7%, p < 0.0001; RR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.8–4.4) than controls. Elevated rates were observed in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (30.6%, 23.6%), Meniere's disease (47.0%, 43.1%), vestibular migraine (46.5%, 35.7%), and vestibular neuritis (19.4%, 20.7%) (all p < 0.0001). Episodic disorders showed higher prevalence than vestibular neuritis. Patients with unspecified peripheral vestibular disorders also had significantly higher anxiety (12.1%) and depression (13.2%) rates than controls. Meta‐regression revealed significant associations between Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scores and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety and depression subscales. Conclusions This meta‐analysis offers the most precise prevalence and relative risk estimates of anxiety and depressive disorders in vestibular illness. The greater risk in episodic versus single‐event vestibular disorders may inform the understanding of vestibular–psychiatric comorbidity mechanisms.

Objectives: Examining the effect of demographics and social vulnerability on diagnosis and management of patients with vestibular and balance disorders. Design: Retrospective review of a database of patients presenting with vestibular symptoms to a multidisciplinary tertiary vestibular clinic between January and October 2021. Main outcomes included odds ratios of final diagnosis, treatment response, time to presentation by demographic variable, insurance status, residence, and social vulnerability factors according to the 2018 Centers for Disease Control Social Vulnerability Index. Results: Five hundred thirty-six patients with definitive vestibular diagnoses and treatment outcome data were included. Mean age at presentation was 60.4 ± 16.5 years. Women (n = 389, 72.6%) outnumbered men (n = 147, 27.4%). Most patients self-identified as White (n = 440, 82.1%) and non-Hispanic (n = 521, 97.2%). Overall, 17.4% of participants belonged to a minority group. Socioeconomic status, household composition, geographic location, and insurance status were associated with patient diagnoses received. Patients from the lowest socioeconomic class were more likely to be diagnosed with Meniere’s disease. In addition, patients with private insurance were more likely to be diagnosed with Meniere disease or vestibular migraine than those with Medicare insurance. Geographic distance greater than 60 miles from the clinic was associated with a higher likelihood to present >90 days since initial symptom onset. Housing and transportation vulnerabilities were associated with decreased treatment response. Conclusions: Diagnostic classification, time to presentation, and treatment outcomes differed according to demographic and social vulnerability factors. There was no single unifying theme among vulnerabilities, but the results of this study offer preliminary data to design future investigations on regional and national levels to understand and mitigate the effects of social vulnerability factors on access to specialty vestibular care and outcomes of treatment.

AbstractObjectiveTo assess relations between Ménière's disease and suicidality, measured by suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviors, and death by suicide.Data SourcesCINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS databases were searched from inception through July 2, 2024.Review MethodsObservational studies related to suicidality in patients with Ménière's disease were included. Non‐English language papers, editorials, and studies on vestibular disorders not specified as Ménière's disease were excluded. The Risk Of Bias In Nonrandomized Studies‐of Exposure tool was used for cohort and qualitative studies, and the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist was used for case‐control studies.ResultsFour studies (n = 168,566) were included in our review. Two cohort studies found significantly increased adjusted hazard ratios of 2.1 (95% CI: 2.0‐2.2) for death by suicide and 7.6 (95% CI: 4.4‐13.3) for suicidal behaviors, respectively, in patients with Ménière's disease compared to the control population after their diagnosis. However, a case‐control study found no significant difference in the prevalence of suicidal ideation or behaviors prior to the date of diagnosis in patients with Ménière's disease compared to the control population (0.9% vs 0.8%; P = .44). In addition, one patient with Ménière's disease expressed suicidal ideation in the qualitative study.ConclusionPatients may experience variable responses to Ménière's disease. Thus, otolaryngologists should be mindful of the potential for suicidality in patients with Ménière's disease.