Postural Control, Sleep Quality, and Body Composition in Patients With Ménière's Disease: A Cross-sectional Study Using Dynamic Posturography.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between postural control, sleep quality, and body composition in patients with Ménière's disease (MD) compared with controls, and identify predictors of balance.

STUDY

DESIGN

Cross-sectional case-control study conducted January to July 2024.

SETTING

University research laboratories specializing in rehabilitation.

PATIENTS: Forty-two adults (21 with MD, 21 age- and sex-matched controls). Exclusion criteria included multiple vestibular diagnoses, neurological or psychiatric disorders, and uncorrected visual impairment.

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postural control (Sensory Organization Test, Limits of Stability, Rhythmic Weight Shift), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Insomnia Severity Index), and body composition (bioimpedance: BMI, fat mass, fat percentage, visceral fat).

RESULTS

MD patients showed significantly poorer sleep than controls (PSQI: 9.8 vs. 4.5; mean difference 5.3; P <.001; r=0.60; ISI: 11.1 vs. 4.5; mean difference 6.6; P <.001; r=0.54). Posturography revealed lower SOT composite scores (57.0 vs. 82.5; P <.001; r=0.69), more falls (3.5 vs. 0.1; P <.001; r=0.65), and reduced vestibular function (30.4 vs. 66.1; P <.001; r=0.56). LOS and RWS showed slower velocities and mediolateral instability (LOS velocity: 2.1 vs. 3.5; P =.002; r=0.49; RWS axis velocity: 4.8 vs. 5.8; P =.008; r=0.41). Higher fat mass (22.0 vs. 17.3 kg; P =.034; d=0.58) and fat percentage (30.5% vs. 24.7%; P =.025; d=0.62) were associated with impaired balance. Regression (adjusted R²=.816) identified age, disease duration, tinnitus, insomnia, and LOS/RWS as significant predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

Postural control in MD is influenced by vestibular, sleep, and anthropometric factors. Poor sleep and adiposity were independently linked to imbalance, supporting multidimensional assessment and rehabilitation addressing sleep and weight.