Although dizziness is a common complaint, data are lacking on the prevalence of dizziness
disorders in a large population. The aim of this population-based study was to conduct
a representative epidemiological survey of an entire population and describe the prevalence
of peripheral vestibular disorders (i.e., Meniere's disease [MD], benign paroxysmal
positional vertigo [BPPV], and vestibularis neuritis [VN]) for the first time.
Methods:
This study includes patient's data of 70.315.919 individuals collected by 123 statutory
health insurance companies in Germany in 2015, covering approximately 86% of the German
population and approximately 1% of the world's population. Patients of all age groups
were analyzed (i.e., 0 – 108 years of age). The primary outcome was the prevalence
of nonspecific vertigo, MD, BPPV, VN, and other peripheral vestibular disorders based
on confirmed ICD-10 codes. The age-dependent prevalence of dizziness disorders and
gender distribution of the study population were also determined.
Results:
The prevalence of the recorded diagnoses was 6.5% (6461/100.000 individuals), with
dizziness disorders significantly more common among women (n = 2.973.323, 65.4). The
gender differences were statistically significant in the entire cohort (p < 0.001).
The prevalence of dizziness disorders reached a peak at the age 74 to 94 years and
declined thereafter.
Conclusions:
In this first nationwide survey of dizziness disorders in a developed country, peripheral
vestibular disorders were common across all age groups. The worldwide impact of these
disorders on the healthcare system is currently underestimated. Further efforts are
needed to investigate the origin, pathology, and treatment ofperipheral vestibular
disorders.
