Association between Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and Thyroid Diseases: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Endocrinology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a prevalent peripheral vestibular disorder with incompletely understood etiopathogenesis.
• Thyroid diseases are increasingly recognized as potential contributing factors to BPPV.
• Investigating these associations is crucial for understanding BPPV's diverse origins.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze epidemiological studies examining the association between BPPV and thyroid diseases.
• To determine if specific thyroid conditions, such as hypothyroidism and Hashimoto thyroiditis, are linked to BPPV.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus.
• Included studies investigated the association between BPPV and thyroid diseases.
• Meta-analysis utilized a dichotomous model with Mantel-Haenszel statistics, odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Main Results:

• Seven studies met systematic review criteria; four provided data for meta-analysis.
• Qualitative analysis indicated studies were from Europe and Asia, predominantly case-control designs.
• Meta-analysis found no association between hypothyroidism and BPPV, but a statistically significant relationship between Hashimoto thyroiditis and BPPV.

Conclusions:

• The meta-analysis suggests a potential association between BPPV and Hashimoto thyroiditis.
• Further research is necessary to confirm and elucidate the observed relationship.
• Understanding this link may offer new insights into BPPV etiopathogenesis.