The relationship between vertigo severity, psychiatric symptoms and obstructive sleep apnoea

This study assessed the connection between vertigo severity and OSA.

111 patients (78 men and 33 women, 48.35 ± 9.24 years) patients with OSA accompanied by vertigo were included in the investigation. These patients underwent respiratory polygraphy, and completed self-reported questionnaires, including the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) questionnaires.

In the study, 25.2% of the patients did not have OSA, 40.5% presented with mild symptoms, 9.9% had moderate symptoms, and 24.3% exhibited severe OSA symptoms. Although the difference in DHI scores based on OSA severity was statistically insignificant (p=0.35, H=3.21, Kruskal-Wallis test), there was a noticeable trend indicating higher DHI values in patients with severe OSA. A logistic regression model observed depression (p=0.010*; OR= 190.252, 95% CI=3.587-10090.086) and BMI obese category (p=0.019*; OR=141.068, CI=2.290-8688.383) as significant predictors for vertigo in OSA. When analysing the correlations between psychiatric symptoms and vertigo in OSA, significant relationships were observed between BDI and total DHI (rho=0.332, p= 0.002*), and the SCL-90-R depression (rho=0.480, p=0.000*) and anxiety points (rho=0.480, p=0.000*) and the total DHI, respectively.

Our analysis indicates a connection between the severity of vertigo symptoms and the severity of OSA. Additionally, the significant correlation between psychiatric symptoms and OSA severity emphasises the need to consider these factors when managing OSA patients in everyday practice.