The impact of COVID-19 preventive lockdowns on the prevalence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

The implementation of preventive lockdowns worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic has radically altered our daily lives. We have observed an increase in vertigo consultations during this period, mainly benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

To determine the impact of preventive lockdown on the prevalence and characteristics of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

We did a retrospective study. All patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo during July and August 2020 who visited the clinic in Red de Salud UC Christus, Santiago, Chile, were included. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, need for repositioning maneuvers, and medical history was compared with patients seen in July and August 2019. Cases secondary to trauma and with incomplete records were excluded.

During July and August 2020, 99 patients consulted with a medical history compatible with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, average age 54.5 years, 68.9% were female. Repositioning maneuvers were required in 40.2% of cases. Of 28 patients with vitamin D levels, 27 showed deficiency/insufficiency. In 2019, for July and August, 54 patients were seen in the clinic with an average age of 61.7 years, and 83.3% were female. Repositioning maneuvers were required in 79.6%, and of the nine patients with vitamin D levels, seven presented deficiency/insufficiency. Statistically significant differences were observed regarding age, sex, and need for repositioning maneuvers.

A high prevalence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo was observed during preventive lockdown for COVID-19 in our clinic. Patients were generally younger, and although it was more frequent in women, the incidence by sex was not as striking as in the previous year.