Exploring the association between BPPV, hypothyroidism, and metabolic comorbidities: A retrospective case-control study.

Background & objective: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a leading cause of vertigo and has been loosely associated with osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency, and broader metabolic dysfunction. Emerging evidence suggests that BPPV may relate to systemic conditions beyond the vestibular system. However, limited research has explored whether individuals with BPPV have increased rates of hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), or osteoporosis. The objective of this study was to examine the association between BPPV and hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and osteoporosis.

Study design & setting: This study was a retrospective case-control study using patient records from a vestibular outpatient rehabilitation clinic in Florida, USA.

Patients & outcomes: Adults diagnosed with BPPV over a six-month period were included in the study. Control data was derived from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Binomial logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs).

Results: A total of 140 individuals diagnosed with BPPV (98 female, 42 male) were analyzed. Patients with BPPV demonstrated statistically significant higher odds of hypothyroidism (OR 2.635, 95% CI 1.260-5.51) and diabetes mellitus (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.09-4.76) compared to national estimates. No significant associations were found for hypertension or osteoporosis.

Conclusion: An association exists between BPPV and both hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus. These findings support the role of systemic metabolic and endocrine dysfunction in the pathophysiology of BPPV and highlight the potential clinical value of screening for relevant comorbidities. Further research is warranted.