Relationship between bone mineral density and clinical features in women with idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and clinical features in women with idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (IBPPV).

STUDY

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS: Patients with BMD measurements made after a diagnosis of IBPPV were included. The IBPPV (n = 78) and control groups (n = 177) were divided into ordinal age categories of similar size. Group A (n = 20) patients were aged 20 to 39 years, Group B (n = 21) patients were aged 40 to 49 years, Group C (n = 18) patients were aged 50 to 59 years, and Group D (n = 19) patients were aged 60 to 69 years.

INTERVENTIONS: In each age range, the BMD values were compared according to the number of canalith repositioning maneuvers (CRMs) or the presence of recurrence. We divided all patients into 2 groups with the normal and abnormal BMD values and compared both groups based on the number of CRMs or the frequency of recurrence.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The BMD value, the number of CRMs, and the presence of recurrence.

RESULTS

In Groups A, B, and C, there was a significant difference in the BMD values between the control, 1-visit, and 2-or-more-visits subgroups. In Group D, the 2-or-more-visits subgroup had a lower BMD value than other subgroups. The difference in the number of CRMs between the normal and abnormal BMD groups was significant. In Groups A and B, there was a significant difference in the BMD values between the control, first-attack, and recurrent-attacks subgroups. In Groups C and D, the recurrent-attacks subgroup had lower BMD values than other subgroups. The difference in the frequency of recurrence between the normal and abnormal BMD groups was significant.

CONCLUSION

Patients with IBPPV had lower BMD values compared with control subjects, and patients with low BMD values showed a significant increase in the number of CRMs required and the recurrence rate.