Characteristics of persistent postural perceptual dizziness patients in a multidisciplinary dizziness clinic.

Background: Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a newly defined condition which was added to the International Classification of Vestibular Disorders in 2017. Little is known about its impact on patients.

Objective: The goal of this study was to analyze the symptomology, epidemiology and impact of PPPD on patients.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was done to identify patients who attended the Multidisciplinary Dizziness Clinic (MDC) and were diagnosed with PPPD. Responses to demographic questions, health-related quality of life surveys and several well-validated questionnaires commonly used to assess dizziness severity were analyzed.

Results: One hundred patients were diagnosed with PPPD between March 2017 and January 2019, of which 80%(80/100) were females. The average Dizziness Handicap Index score was 60.3±19.0. Responses to the Patient Health Questionnaire classified 53 patients (53/99;53.5%) as moderately to severely depressed. Sixty-four patients (64/100;64.0%) were minimally or mildly anxious according to the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. The average Vertigo Symptom Scale score was 24.1/60. The average Situational Vertigo Questionnaire score was 2.00. Forty-nine (49/100;49.0%) patients had migraine symptoms according to the Migraine Screen Questionnaire.

Conclusions: In conclusion, patients with PPPD display important handicap and an elevated risk of depression, anxiety and migraines.