The Impact of Sleep Apnea Therapy on Dizziness Symptoms

Monday, September 30, 2024

10:24 AM – 10:30 AM EDT

Location: MBCC, 238-239

Disclosure(s):

João M. Barbosa, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Filipa Maria Ruas Morgado, 68321:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Inês P. Delgado, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Alberto M.N Santos, PhD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: The presence of dizziness in the population with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has been the subject of several studies, with literature describing a higher incidence of vertigo in patients with OSAS compared to individuals without OSAS. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dizziness in patients with OSA and the impact of OSAS treatment on these symptoms.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 226 patients diagnosed with OSAS at the Hospital de Loures in 2020 and 2021. The inclusion criteria were: age range of 18-64 years; polysomnography (PSG) with an Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) > 5; under therapy for OSAS for at least 2 years. Through a 9-question telephone survey, data on demographics, treatment modalities (positive airway pressure therapy, weight loss and upper airway surgery) and dizziness symptoms pre and post-OSAS treatment were collected. Statistical analysis explored correlations between Body Mass Index (BMI), age, AHI, and pretreatment dizziness, and the effect of OSAS treatment on symptom improvement.

Results: The patient group had a mean age of 50 years and 66.8% were male. The average BMI was 34 and the average AHI was 36. The prevalence of balance disorders before OSAS treatment was noted in 24% of the patients. The only statistically significant correlation is the one between BMI and the pretreatment balance disorder (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.141, p = 0.035); that is, a higher BMI value is correlated with a higher incidence of pretreatment dizziness. Among those with pretreatment balance disorders, 88% reported improvement of symptoms post-OSAS treatment. There is a statistically significant correlation between treatment of OSAS and reported improvement in dizziness symptoms post-treatment OSAS (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.277, p = 0.027).

Conclusions: The findings revealed a significant portion of OSAS patients suffer from balance disorders, with OSAS treatment positively impacting dizziness symptoms. Further research is warranted to explore these relationships and identify factors contributing to balance improvement in OSAS patients.

Presenting Author(s)

JB

João M. Barbosa, MD

Resident
Hospital De Loures
Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

AG

Andréa Gaspar, PhD

Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
FM

Filipa Maria Ruas Morgado

Ent resident
Hospital Beatriz Angelo
Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
ID

Inês P. Delgado, MD

Hospital Assistant
Hospital Beatriz Angelo
Algés , Lisboa, Portugal

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
MA

Margarida Aguiar, MD

Hospital Beatriz Angelo, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
AS

Alberto M.N Santos, PhD

Assistant Professor - Senior ENT Consultant
Lisbon University l - Beatriz Angelo Hospital
lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
FT

Filipa Todo Bom, MD

Hospital Beatriz Angelo, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
CM

Carlos Macor, MD

Hospital Beatriz Angelo, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.