Clinical analysis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in youth / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the clinical features of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in patients of 40 years old or younger. Methods The clinical features of 40 patients (age ≤40 years) with BPPV admitted from August 2009 to July 2011 were retrospectively analyzed, and compared with that of 286 middle and old-aged patients (age >40 years) with BPPV admitted in the same period. Results The incidence of BPPV in young patients showed a relatively higher incidence (12.3%), with the sex ratio of male to female 13 and a mean age of 32.1±6.2 years. The mean latent period of vertigo attack was 1.2±1.3 seconds, and 10 patients (25%) showed no obvious latent period. The median duration of vertigo was 10s. The posterior semicircular canal was involved in 27 patients (67.5%). Cupulolithiasis was found in 6 patients, and all the otolithiasis was found to involve the posterior semicircular canal. The proportion of BPPV with no obvious latency was higher in the young patients than in the middle and old-aged patients (25.0% vs 11.5%, χ2=5.554, P=0.018), but no significant difference in sex ratio, the course of disease, the ratio of involved semicircular canal, the latency and the duration of vertigo attack was found between two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions The incidence of BPPV is relatively higher in youth, more common in females, and the posterior semicircular canal is commonly involved. Compared with the middle and old-aged patients with BPPV, the proportion patients with no obvious latency of vertigo attack in young patients is higher, and the incidence of cupulolithiasis involving posterior semicircular canal is higher in the youth.