Insights Into Modifiable Risk Factors of Vertigo Using the Mendelian Randomization Approach

Background: Vertigo is a highly prevalent symptom with wide-ranging causes and adverse consequences. While common risk factors for vertigo have been identified, their causal relationship with vertigo remains not fully known. Thus, identifying the modifiable factors causally related to vertigo is crucial for preventing vertigo.

Methods: A comprehensive Mendelian randomization study was employed to investigate the causal effects of vertigo among more than 40 genetically predicted modifiable risk factors, categorized into lifestyle traits, blood parameters, and metabolic comorbidities. This study used two different vertigo summary statistics from the deCODE and FinnGen consortia. Estimates were calculated using the inverse-variance weighted method and validated through alternative approaches.

Results: The results indicated that genetically predicted higher educational level was significantly associated with a decreased risk of vertigo (deCODE: odds ratio (OR) = 0.757, 95% CI = 0.697–0.822, p_{FDR[false discover rate]} < 0.001; FinnGen: OR = 0.796, 95%CI = 0.703–0.901, p_FDR = 0.007), while genetically predicted longer television watching was significantly associated with an increased risk of vertigo (deCODE: OR = 1.193, 95%CI = 1.076–1.323, p_FDR = 0.011; FinnGen: OR = 1.269, 95%CI = 1.085–1.483, p_FDR = 0.030). Additionally, genetically predicted elevated levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) were positively associated with the risk of vertigo. Genetically predicted increased physical activity was suggestively related to a reduced risk of vertigo, while higher triglyceride, body mass index (BMI), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were suggestively associated with an increased risk of vertigo (p_raw < 0.05).

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that genetically predicted increased educational levels and physical activity were associated with a decreased risk of vertigo, while higher levels of ALT and triglycerides, television watching time, BMI, and DBP were positively associated with the risk of vertigo. Thus, modifying these factors would decrease the risk of vertigo.