Vestibular migraine in low- and lower-middle-income countries: A scoping review

Eric K. Kim; Amina Seguya; May Htoo Thaw; Peggy Tahir; Eric J. Formeister; Christopher J. Waterworth; Ali F. Jaffer

Journal of Otology (Jul 2023)

Vestibular migraine in low- and lower-middle-income countries: A scoping review

Eric K. Kim,
Amina Seguya,
May Htoo Thaw,
Peggy Tahir,
Eric J. Formeister,
Christopher J. Waterworth,
Ali F. Jaffer

Affiliations

Eric K. Kim: The Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco 513 Parnassus Ave., Suite S-245, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0454, USA.
Amina Seguya: The Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA; Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
May Htoo Thaw: The Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA; Eye, ORL-HNS Hospital, Mandalay, Myanmar
Peggy Tahir: The Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA; UCSF Library, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
Eric J. Formeister: The Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
Christopher J. Waterworth: The Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA; Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Ali F. Jaffer: The Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA; HearWell Audiology Clinic, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 18, no. 3
pp. 173 – 184

Abstract

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Background: Vestibular migraine (VM) is a common cause of dizziness that is underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and challenging to effectively treat. The prevalence, appropriate diagnostic workup, and therapies for VM in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) remain understudied. The objective of this scoping review is to evaluate the current state of VM research in LLMICs. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched to execute a scoping review of VM. Keywords “vestibular diseases” and “vertigo” were used in combination with terms referring to LLMICs as defined by the World Bank. Title and abstract screening, full-text review, and data collection were conducted by two authors independently. Results: Twenty-six studies were included in the scoping review. Most studies were cross-sectional (57.7%) or case studies/series (23.1%) and were conducted in urban settings only (92.3%). Geographic distribution of studies was skewed, with 65.4% of articles originating from India. The prevalence of VM among clinic patients ranged from 0.3% to 33.3%. VM most frequently presented as headache, nausea and vomiting, and photophobia. Radiographic imaging, audiometry, and electronystagmography/videonystagmography were the three most commonly utilized diagnostic modalities in the dizziness workup. The most studied pharmacotherapies included calcium channel blockers, followed by beta-blockers and antiepileptics. Case studies and series discussed less common VM pharmacotherapies, such as ayurvedic medicine. Conclusions: There is a need for more VM research in LLMICs, including innovative diagnostic approaches and therapies that can improve VM care globally. Equitable partnerships between LLMIC and high-income country researchers must expand vestibular research capacity and productivity in LLMICs.

Published in Journal of Otology

ISSN: 1672-2930 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Medicine: Otorhinolaryngology
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-otology/

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