The impact of bilateral vestibulopathy on quality of life: data from the Antwerp University Hospital registry.

Abstract

Objective: Bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) is a rare condition which causes significant impairments in balance, spatial orientation, and gaze stability. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of BVP on several outcome domains related to daily life.

Study design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Tertiary referral center for otology and neurotology.

Patients: Sixty-one patients treated for BVP at the Antwerp University Hospital.

Intervention: Questionnaire with items covering several outcome domains.

Main outcome measures: Impact of BVP on employment, mobility, activities of daily living, health outcomes, and finances.

Results: A total of 61 patients with BVP completed the questionnaire. Of these, 47.5% were retired, 26.2% were actively employed and 23% were unable to work due to their symptoms. 4.9% had to change work in the past, and 6.6% had to adjust their work situation. 8.1% had been absent from work for more than 4 weeks in the last year. Of those who had driven in the last year, 42.6% reported that their balance problems had affected their driving ability. 54.1% reported having fallen as a result of their BVP symptoms and 39.4% of these required a visit to their general practitioner or a hospital due to a fall. 14.8% reported that they had visited the emergency room and 21.3% reported that they had been admitted to the hospital in the last year. 13.1% reported that they had borne extra financial costs in the last year due to their condition, with a median burden of €1,000.

Conclusions: BVP has a significant impact on daily life as measured across several domains. These findings indicate that there is a significant disease burden associated with BVP. New treatment or management modalities are needed to reduce this burden.