Clinical features of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and causes of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Methods: The clinical data of 521 patients with BPPV were collected. The percentage of patients with BPPV in all the outpatients with dizziness and vertigo, the clinical characteristics of BPPV, and the prevalence of comorbidity with migraine were analyzed. Results: BPPV accounted for 35.7% of patients with vertigo and 12.1% of patients with dizziness. Among the 521 patients with BPPV, 158 (30.3%) were male and 363 (69.7%) were female, with an average age of (57.5 ± 12.8) years old (20 to 93 years old). Right semicircular canals were involved in 323 cases (62.0%), and left semicircular canals in 187 cases (35.9%). The latency period of nystagmus of vertical canals was (3.22 ±2.37) s, and time of persistence was (8.31 ± 7.98) s. The latency period of nystagmus of horizontal canals was (2.33 ± 1.50) s, and the time of persistence was (14.77 ± 11.40) s. There were significant differences in the latency period of nystagmus and time of persistence between the vertical and horizontal canals (P=0.001 and P=0.000). Fifteen patients (2.9%) had a history of head trauma and 39 (7.5%) were complicated with migraine. Conclusion: BPPV is prevalent in patients with dizziness and vertigo, and misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis should be avoided.