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Epidemiological study of severe cases of Meniére's disease in Japan
H Shojaku1, Y Watanabe, K Mizukoshi
1Department of Otolaryngology, Toyama Medical and Pharamaceutical University, Japan.
Abstract:
In order to clarify the characteristics of severe cases of Meniére's disease (MD), we analyzed various epidemiological factors such as sex ratio, past history, complication, cause of onset of vertiginous attacks, etc., in a series of 958 patients with definite MD. Data were obtained from the three Japan-wide surveys of MD conducted by the Meniére's Disease Research Committee of Japan (1975-76) and the Vestibular Disorders Research Committee of Japan (1982-84 & 1990). Following the ideas proposed by the members of the Vestibular Disorder Research Committee of Japan, we divided severe cases into three categories according to the following criteria i) bilateral MD cases (BMD), ii) unilateral MD cases with prolonged disabled vertigo (UPDV), iii) unilateral MD cases with profound hearing loss (UPHL). About 40% of the subjects were classified as severe cases (UPDV: 23%; BMD: 9%; UPHL: 6%). The ratio of otitis media in past history was statistically different between severe cases and non-severe patients (p < 0.05), suggesting that otitis media in the past may contribute to the severity of Meniére's disease.
Insights
Severe Meniére
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neuroscience
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Meniere's disease (MD) is a complex inner ear disorder.
- Understanding the characteristics of severe MD cases is crucial for effective management.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the epidemiological factors associated with severe MD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the epidemiological characteristics of severe Meniére's disease.
- To identify factors contributing to the severity of MD.
- To categorize severe MD cases for better understanding.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of epidemiological data from 958 definite MD patients.
- Data sourced from three Japan-wide Meniére's disease surveys (1975-76, 1982-84, 1990).
- Classification of severe cases into three categories: bilateral MD (BMD), unilateral MD with prolonged disabled vertigo (UPDV), and unilateral MD with profound hearing loss (UPHL).
Main Results:
- Approximately 40% of patients were classified as severe cases.
- Severe cases included UPDV (23%), BMD (9%), and UPHL (6%).
- A statistically significant higher ratio of past otitis media was observed in severe MD cases compared to non-severe cases (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Past otitis media may be a contributing factor to the severity of Meniére's disease.
- Identifying severe MD cases and their associated factors can aid in targeted treatment strategies.
- Further research is warranted to explore the relationship between otitis media and MD severity.