Self-Reported Measures Have a Stronger Association With Dizziness-Related Handicap Compared With Physical Tests in...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychology

Background:

• Dizziness-related handicap is often assessed via self-reported measures.
• Limited research exists on the association between dizziness handicap and combined physical and self-reported functional measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine variations in signs and symptoms in persistent dizziness patients.
• To correlate physical tests and self-reported outcomes with Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) severity levels.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study included 107 participants with persistent dizziness.
• Evaluated physical function (gait, strength, flexibility, movement-induced dizziness) and self-reported outcomes (psychological, fatigue, quality of life).
• Used descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis, adjusting for age and sex.

Main Results:

• Worse performance on physical tests and self-reported measures correlated with increased DHI severity.
• After adjustments, DHI scores significantly associated with avoidance behavior, psychological distress, dizziness severity, and quality of life.
• Physical tests were not significantly associated with DHI total score, which explained 56% of the variance.

Conclusions:

• The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) is valuable for assessing self-reported outcomes in persistent dizziness.
• Physical tests showed a trend but were not significantly linked to DHI scores.
• A combination of physical and self-reported measures is recommended for comprehensive patient evaluation.