Diverse phenotype of Ménière's disease associated with family history, thyroid disorder, migraine and associated disorders

Abstract

Objective

To better understand the clinical phenotype of Ménière's disease (MD), we examined family history, thyroid disorder, migraine, and associated disorders in complaints of people living with MD.

Method

We designed the study as a retrospective and examined data gathered from 912 participants with MD. Their data were originally collected by the Finnish Ménière Federation (FMF). The survey data included individual case histories for environmental factors, comorbidities, disease-specific complaints, impact-related questions, cognitive complaints, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and sense of coherence (SOC).

Results

We observed significant differences between those with and without sporadic occurrence, family history, thyroid disorder, and migraine-associated complaints. Family history explained 20% of variability in patient complaints. Patients with a family history of MD whose disease started at younger age experienced balance problems, more severe vertigo spells, more severe vestibular drop attacks (VDA), and less nausea, although they had good SOC. Thyroid disorder explained 14% of variability in patient complaints. MD patients with a thyroid disorder comorbidity suffered more often from constant dizziness, balance problems, greater impact of hearing problems, cognitive complaints, and poor HRQoL. Migraine explained 12% of variability in patients’ complaints and was associated with poor SOC and cognitive balance problems. MD patients with both thyroid disorder and migraine used antidepressants more often than other groups. Logistic regression analysis showed comorbidities of ischemic brain disorder (among 7.1%), kidney insufficiency (among 1.2%), and diabetes (among 7.3%) had statistically significant but restricted association with balance and gait problems, VDA, and reduced HRQoL.

Conclusions

Family history of MD and thyroid disorder or migraine comorbidities in MD influence the complaint pattern and partially explain complex symptom profiles, including symptoms of cognitive problems. Confounders play a minimal role in complaint profile and impact of MD whereas comorbidities influence the complaint structure and partly explain the complex symptom profile in MD.