Impaired quality of sleep in Ménière's disease patients.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the quality of sleep in Ménière's disease patients with the use of polysomnography.

STUDY

DESIGN

Prospective study using polysomnography administered in patients diagnosed as "Definite Meniere's disease cases" according to the guidelines of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients, 17 male and 18 female, aged 31 to 71 (58 average) years with active, unilateral, cochleovestibular Ménière's disease refractory to medical management underwent polysomnography. The results were compared with 35 healthy controls matched for age and sex. All participants underwent full-night polysomnography, and a sleep medicine physician interpreted the results.

RESULTS

Total sleeping time in Ménière's disease was significantly higher than in controls. Stage 2 sleep was significantly longer and stage 3+4 shorter in Ménière's disease than controls, while there was no difference of stage 1 and REM. Arousal index was significantly higher in Ménière's disease than in controls. Five cases of severe OSAS were found in Ménière's disease and 4 cases in controls; 4 cases of PLMD were found in patients and 3 in controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our finding of decreased deep sleep and an elevated arousal index is a striking new finding in Ménière's disease. This poor quality of sleep in Ménière's disease patients has received little attention in the past, but may cause additional stress and lead to a negative spiral of symptoms.