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

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.

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

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.

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.

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