Seasonal variation in peripheral vestibular disorders based on Korean population data

Junhui Jeong; Tae Mi Youk; Hyun Taek Jung; Hyun Seung Choi

doi:10.1002/lio2.1254

Seasonal variation in peripheral vestibular disorders based on Korean population data

Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2024 May 9;9(3):e1254. doi: 10.1002/lio2.1254. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Authors

Junhui Jeong^{1

2}, Tae Mi Youk³, Hyun Taek Jung², Hyun Seung Choi²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine The Catholic University of Korea Seoul Korea.
² Department of Otorhinolaryngology National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital Goyang Korea.
³ Research and Analysis Team National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital Goyang Korea.

Abstract

Objectives: Comprehensive studies in which the seasonal variation in peripheral vestibular disorders was evaluated using data from an entire population are insufficient. The seasonal variation in peripheral vestibular disorders based on data from the entire Korean population was investigated in the present study.

Methods: Retrospective data from the National Health Insurance Service of Korea from 2008 to 2020 was analyzed. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis (VN), and Meniere's disease (MD) were defined based on diagnostic, treatment, or audiovestibular test codes. The seasonal incidence for each peripheral vestibular disorder was calculated among all study subjects.

Results: For the entire study cohort, the incidence of BPPV was significantly higher in spring (odds ratio [OR] = 1.031, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.026-1.037), autumn (OR = 1.024, 95% CI = 1.019-1.029), and winter (OR = 1.051, 95% CI = 1.046-1.056) than in summer. The incidence of VN was significantly lower in winter (OR = 0.917, 95% CI = 0.907-0.927) than in summer. The incidence of MD was significantly higher in spring (OR = 1.027, 95% CI = 1.015-1.039) and autumn (OR = 1.029, 95% CI = 1.017-1.041) and significantly lower in winter (OR = 0.919, 95% CI = 0.908-0.931) than in summer. Differences were also observed in seasonal variation based on sex and age.

Conclusions: Significant seasonal variation occurred in peripheral vestibular disorders including BPPV, VN, and MD based on the entire Korean population data. Furthermore, seasonal variation showed differences based on sex and age.

Level of evidence: 4.

Keywords: Meniere's disease; benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; peripheral vestibular disorder; population‐based study; season; seasonal variation; vestibular neuritis.