A study of factors influencing intensity and annoyance in vertigo or dizziness

Abstract

For 74 men and 123 women averaging 52.5 years of age with vertigo and dizziness, we recorded the age, gender, vertigo type, duration of illness, concomitant symptoms, and vestibular and psychological test results and used a 100 mm horizontal visual analog scale (VAS) to quantitatively assess sensation intensity and annoyance in vertigo or dizziness. Factors influencing these 2 quantitative assessment parameters were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression analysis. Factors influencing sensation intensity were nausea or vomiting as a concomitant symptom, duration of vertigo or dizziness (within a day), and first episode onset. Intensity of sensation to vertigo or dizziness, self-rating depression score (SDS), and gender (female) were selected as significantly influencing annoyance. These results suggest that rational care of significant factors that involve the intensity and annoyance in vertigo is essential to treating patients with vertigo or dizziness.