Cruz-Zorrilla GE, Pérez-Fernández N, Hernández-Palestina MS, Carrillo-Mora P

Language: Spanish
References: 11
Page: 181-186
PDF size: 428.44 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Background: Vestibular disorders represent one of the most common complaints seen at the primary care level and usually manifests as dizziness, vertigo or instability. The management of dizzy patients has inclined traditionally on treating the underlying organic disease, taking into account only objective parameters, which may underestimate the effects the symptoms may have on the patient’s quality of life through social, emotional and psychological factors.
Objective: To explore de correlation and effect that both objective and subjective factors have on the severity of the symptoms and the effect on the patients life.
Patients and method: A prospective, observational, transversal and analytic study was done measuring the objective factors through the Clinical Index, which is a numeric value that represents the alterations found after the otoneurologic examination and on vestibular tests. The subjective factors were explored through the application of several questionnaires such as Questionnaire of Emotional Impact of Vertigo (CIEV), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSS) and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), which were validated for the target population.
Results: We found a low correlation between our objective and subjective measurements and also a high prevalence of anxiety and depression on our population. Our results support the fact that the dizziness pattern of presentation by itself has more influence on the severity and effects the symptoms have on the patient than other variables such as age and sex. The most important factor affecting quality of life seems to be the perception the patient has of his own symptoms and the lack of control he has over them.
Conclusions: The use of questionnaires to study objective and subjective factors of severity, disability and functional limitation is essential, because these factors have more influence on evolution and prognosis than objective findings of physical exploration and complementary studies.

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