Relationship Between Bone Mineral Density and Clinical Features in Women With Idiopathic Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and clinical features in women with idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (IBPPV). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Patients with BMD measurements made after a diagnosis of IBPPV were included. The IBPPV (n = 78) and control groups (n = 177) were divided into ordinal age categories of similar size. Group A (n = 20) patients were aged 20 to 39 years, Group B (n = 21) patients were aged 40 to 49 years, Group C (n = 18) patients were aged 50 to 59 years, and Group D (n = 19) patients were aged 60 to 69 years. INTERVENTIONS: In each age range, the BMD values were compared according to the number of canalith repositioning maneuvers (CRMs) or the presence of recurrence. We divided all patients into 2 groups with the normal and abnormal BMD values and compared both groups based on the number of CRMs or the frequency of recurrence. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The BMD value, the number of CRMs, and the presence of recurrence. RESULTS: In Groups A, B, and C, there was a significant difference in the BMD values between the control, 1-visit, and 2-or-more-visits subgroups. In Group D, the 2-or-more-visits subgroup had a lower BMD value than other subgroups. The difference in the number of CRMs between the normal and abnormal BMD groups was significant. In Groups A and B, there was a significant difference in the BMD values between the control, first-attack, and recurrent-attacks subgroups. In Groups C and D, the recurrent-attacks subgroup had lower BMD values than other subgroups. The difference in the frequency of recurrence between the normal and abnormal BMD groups was significant. CONCLUSION: Patients with IBPPV had lower BMD values compared with control subjects, and patients with low BMD values showed a significant increase in the number of CRMs required and the recurrence rate.