Variables associated with outcome in patients with bilateral vestibular hypofunction: Preliminary study.
BACKGROUND
Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) improves symptoms and function in some but not all patients with bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH).


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine change following vestibular rehabilitation and to identify factors associated with rehabilitation outcome in patients with BVH.


METHODS
Data from 69 patients with BVH were analyzed. Factors studied included patient characteristics, subjective complaints and physical function. Outcome measures included symptom intensity, balance confidence, quality of life, gait speed, fall risk, and dynamic visual acuity. Bivariate correlations were used to examine relationships of patient characteristics and baseline measures with outcome measures. One-way ANOVAs were used to compare outcomes in patients with BVH versus unilateral vestibular hypofunction (UVH).


RESULTS
As a group, patients with BVH improved in all outcome measures except disability following a course of vestibular rehabilitation (VR); however, only 38-86% demonstrated a meaningful improvement, depending on the specific outcome measure examined. Several factors measured at baseline - age, DGI score, gait speed and perceived dysequilibrium - were associated with outcomes. For example, greater age was related to higher DVA scores at discharge; lower initial DGI scores were related to higher Disability scores at discharge. Compared to patients with UVH, reported previously [9], a smaller percentage of patients with BVH improve and to a lesser extent.


CONCLUSION
Consideration of baseline factors may provide guidance for setting patient goals. Further research is needed determine what factors predict outcome and to develop more effective treatment strategies for those patients who do not improve.
['Herdman|Susan J|SJ|', 'Hall|Courtney D|CD|', 'Maloney|Brian|B|', 'Knight|Sara|S|', 'Ebert|Marti|M|', 'Lowe|Jessica|J|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D000375:Aging D004185:Disability Evaluation D005260:Female D007839:Functional Laterality D005684:Gait D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D004856:Postural Balance D011788:Quality of Life D012189:Retrospective Studies D016896:Treatment Outcome D014717:Vertigo D015837:Vestibular Diseases D014724:Vestibular Function Tests
outcomes bilateral vestibular hypofunction Vestibular rehabilitation