Higher incidence of Ménière’s disease during COVID-19 pandemic: a preliminary report

Abstract

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represented a stressful event. Objectives The incidence of newly diagnosed Ménière’s disease (MD) patients before and during COVID-19 at our Institution was calculated. Materials and methods The period 2018–2020 was considered. Incidence was calculated as number of annual first MD diagnoses divided by the number of annual first audiological evaluations. Results One hundred and eighty-three patients were considered. Annual incidence of MD at our institution was 1.3% in 2018, 1.2% in 2019, and 3.2% in 2020, resulting in a significant increase during COVID-19 pandemic (2018 vs. 2020, p=.00001; 2019 vs. 2020, p=.00001). MD patients in 2020 presented a higher number of vertigo attacks (2018 vs. 2020, p=.04; 2019 vs. 2020, p=.04) and higher Dizziness Handicap Inventory questionnaire (DHI) values (2018 vs. 2020, p=.02; 2019 vs. 2020, p=.03). During COVD-19 pandemic, MD patients reported significantly higher State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) – Y1 (2018 vs. 2020, p=.04; 2019 vs. 2020, p=.03). Conclusions and significance A higher incidence of MD first diagnosis was calculated during COVID-19 pandemic; furthermore, MD patients presented with more vertigo attacks and higher DHI values. These could be associated with the higher state anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic.