Relation Between the Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and Environmental and Climatic Factors

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and the environmental and climatic factors through a retrospective statistical analysis spanning 3 years (2009-2012).Methods:Two hundred and forty five idiopathic BPPV patients (146 women, 99 men; mean age, 47.7 for men and 43.1 for women) living in Istanbul were included in this study. The relation between the climatic and basic environmental data (air pollution, air pressure, mean temperature, humidity; data collected monthly by Istanbul Directorate of Meteorology) and the corresponding number of BPPV patients were analyzed for the January 2009-March 2012 time interval.Results:Statistically significant negative correlation (p<0.05) was observed between the number of BPPV patients and the temperature. Regarding the relation between the number of BPPV patients and basic environmental factors, positive correlation (p<0.05) was indicated with the air pressure (P), humidity (H), sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentration, particle quantity (PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations.Conclusion:BPPV was more frequent in middle-aged women and on the right side. In our study, It was clear that BPPV increased during the Winter season. The effect of air pollution, especially particle concentration, is suspected, however it is not yet clearly identified. The factors that correlate the climate and otoconia metabolism require further investigation.

Keywords

• climate
• environment
• epidemiology
• paroxysmal positional vertigo
• air pollution
• seasonality