European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, cilt.28, sa.6, ss.2155-2160, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
– OBJECTIVE: We investigated symptom scores and quality of life in unilateral posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective and multicentric study, 78 patients with unilateral posterior canal BPPV (47 right-sided and 31 left-sided) were included. All patients have performed the Standard Epley maneuver. Features of the nystagmus [nystagmus duration (second), latent period (second)] and features of the disease [side (right or left-sided), disease duration (years), and recurrence of disease (present or absent)] were noted. Before and 1 week after the Epley maneuver, all patients were evaluated using the Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSS), Vertigo Dizziness Imbalance Symptom Scale (VDI-SS), and Vertigo Dizziness Imbalance health-related quality of life scale (VDI-HQoL). RESULTS: Our results showed that VSSs of the right-sided group were significantly higher than those in the left-sided group before and 1 week after the maneuver (p<0.05). One week after the maneuver, VDI-HQoLs of the left-sided group were significantly higher than those in the right-sided group (p<0.05). In all right-sided and left-sided groups, at 1 week after the maneuver, VSSs were significantly lower, and VDI-SSs and VDI-HQoLs were significantly higher than those before the maneuver (p<0.05). As VSS values increased, VDI-SS and VDI-HQoL values decreased (p<0.05). In the left-sided group, VSS values decreased, and VDI-HQoL values increased. As disease duration increased, VSS values increased before the maneuver (p<0.05). In females, VSS values increased, and VDI-SS and VDI-HQoL values decreased before the maneuver (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In posterior canal BPPV, the Epley maneuver effectively decreased VSS values and increased VDI-SS and VDI-HQoL values. In the left-sided BPPV group, there were lower VSS values and higher VDI-HQoL values that showed better quality of life of the patients. Older age and female gender are other factors related to lower quality of life with higher symptom scores.