Evaluating Quality of Life in Patients With Meniere's Disease Treated as Migraine

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2018 Dec;127(12):877-887. doi: 10.1177/0003489418799107. Epub 2018 Sep 9.

Abstract

Objective:: To evaluate the change in quality of life (QOL) of patients with Meniere's disease (MD) after treatment with migraine prophylaxis therapy.

Methods:: Patients with definite MD were given the Meniere's Disease Outcomes Questionnaire-Retrospective (MDOQ-R) after migraine prophylactic therapy to assess QOL. Changes in physical, emotional, and social parameters affected by MD were calculated, along with a global pre- and posttreatment QOL scores.

Results:: The MDOQ-R was given to 27 consecutive patients with definite MD. Patients who had at least an 18-month follow-up were included, resulting in 25 questionnaires. The mean change in QOL score was 25 ± 16 (range, -3 to 55), P = .02. Quality of life was improved in 23 (92%) of the respondents in every metric measured, unchanged in 1 (4%), and poorer in 1 (4%) of patients after migraine prophylaxis treatment.

Conclusions:: Majority of MD patients who had all failed diuretic therapy responded positively to medications used for migraine prophylaxis, as indicated by a significant improvement in QOL. This study may further suggest a correlation between the pathophysiologic basis of disease in MD and vestibular migraine. Patients with MD may be successfully managed with medications intended to treat migraine.

Keywords: Meniere’s disease; dizziness; migraine; quality of life; vertigo; vestibular migraine.

MeSH terms

  • Chemoprevention / methods
  • Female
  • Fructose / administration & dosage
  • Fructose / analogs & derivatives*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meniere Disease* / diagnosis
  • Meniere Disease* / drug therapy
  • Meniere Disease* / physiopathology
  • Meniere Disease* / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Migraine Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Migraine Disorders* / drug therapy
  • Migraine Disorders* / physiopathology
  • Migraine Disorders* / psychology
  • Nortriptyline / administration & dosage*
  • Patient Reported Outcome Measures
  • Psychotropic Drugs / administration & dosage
  • Quality of Life*
  • Risk Reduction Behavior
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Topiramate
  • Vasodilator Agents / administration & dosage
  • Verapamil / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Topiramate
  • Fructose
  • Nortriptyline
  • Verapamil