PATTERN OF PATIENTS PRESENTING AS VERTIGO TO THE OPD SERVICES AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KASHMIR. : A HOSPITAL BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Vertigo is a symptom of vestibular dysfunction with a sensation of motion (most commonly rotational motion). It is one of the common presenting complaints in primary care institutions and emergency departments. Different words are used by different patients about the type of motion being perceived. Vertigo affects both men and women & all age groups. Diagnosis of the underlying disease demands that the complaint of vertigo be analyzed correctly. To determine the 1. Associated presenting symptoms, 2. Pattern of diseases & 3. Risk fac Objectives: tors of Vertigo among patients attending the OPD services at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kashmir. A cross-s Methods: ectional Study was conducted among the patients attending the OPD services of the Post Graduate Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck surgery (ORL AND HNS), Government SMHS Hospital Srinagar for a period of 18 months from May 2020 up to October 2021. All the patients of peripheral vertigo attending the ENT OPD in the age group of 21 to 70 years of age of either sex were included. Patients of Central vertigo, Severe Cervical Spinal disease, Uncontrolled Hypertension and active Heart ailments were excluded. 68 patients (61.8%) were Results & Discussion: females while as 42 patients (38.2%) were males. Majority of patients presented as Vertigo associated with change in position (41.8%) followed by Vertigo associated with change in position & Nausea vomiting (20.9%); Vertigo & Tinnitus (10.9%) & Vertigo & Nausea vomiting (9.1%). Vertigo associated with Change in position was the most common symptom present in 62.7% followed by Nausea/Vomiting (30%). Mean age of participants was 43.4 years with an SD of 10.2 years. The minimum age was 22 years & maximum age was 70 years. Out of 110 patients in this study 75 Patients (68.2%) had BPPV, 30 Patients (27.3%) had Meniere's disease & only 5 Patients (4.5%) had Vestibular neuritis. The mean age was highest among patients of Meniere's disease (49.50 Years), followed by patients of Vestibular neuritis (44.80 Years) & BPPV (40.85 Years); and this difference was statistically significant as the p value was less than 0.05. Vertigo with change in position was specifically associated with BPPV, while as Vertigo with Tinnitis/ Aural Fullness/ Fluctuating hearing was specifically associated with Meniere's disease. Vertigo with Nausea and vomiting was specifically associated with Vestibular neuritis. All these associations were statistically significant with a p value of <0.001. The Vertigo of BPPV presented for Seconds, the Vertigo of Meniere's disease presented for Minutes and Hours; & the Vertigo of Vestibular Neuritis presented for days. This study was devised to determine the pattern of patie Conclusion: nts presenting as vertigo to the OPD services at government SMHS hospital Srinagar. A total of 110 patients aged 22 to 70 years of age of either sex presenting with the complaint of vertigo were included in the study. Vertigo associated with change in position was the most common presentation & BPPV was the most common diagnosis (68.2%) followed by Meniere's disease (27.3%). Vertigo with change in position was specifically associated with BPPV, while as Vertigo with Tinnitis/ Aural Fullness/ Fluctuating hearing was specifically associated with Meniere's disease. The Vertigo of BPPV usually presented for Seconds, the Vertigo of Meniere's disease for Minutes to Hours & that of Vestibular Neuritis for days.