Elevated red cell distribution width predicts residual dizziness in patients with benign paroxysmal positional...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Hematology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of dizziness.
• Residual dizziness (RD) can persist after successful BPPV treatment, impacting patient recovery.
• Predictive markers for RD are needed to improve patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if red blood cell distribution width (RDW) can predict residual dizziness (RD) in BPPV patients.
• To assess the association between RDW levels and the occurrence of RD post-treatment.
• To evaluate RDW's potential as a biomarker for RD in BPPV.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 303 BPPV patients was studied.
• Patients were categorized into non-RD and RD groups post-successful repositioning treatment.
• Data collected included blood tests and magnetic resonance imaging.

Main Results:

• Patients with RD exhibited significantly higher mean RDW values compared to the non-RD group (13.63 ± 1.8 vs. 12.5 ± 0.8).
• Elevated RDW was identified as a significant risk factor for RD (OR = 2.62, p < 0.001).
• RDW demonstrated moderate predictive ability for RD (AUC = 0.723) and recurrence (AUC = 0.692).

Conclusions:

• Higher RDW levels are associated with an increased risk of residual dizziness in BPPV patients.
• RDW may serve as a potential predictive marker for RD following BPPV treatment.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying pathophysiology linking RDW and RD.