Basic Settings and Patient Selection
We performed a retrospective case series in academic settings. This study was approved as audit by the Research Ethical Committee. Local Caldicott guardian approval was gained for this study.
We analysed the notes of patients presenting to an audiology-led vertigo clinics in a secondary care service covering 1.2 million population and tertiary referral service covering 2.2 million population who were diagnosed and subsequently treated for BPPV. We covered the three-year time period between end 2018 and beginning 2021. Patients that were representations were also included and data from previous visits were collected to ensure accuracy of captured data with detailed documentation of the precise number of presentations and treatment sessions.
We included only patients with a confirmed diagnosis of BPPV, i.e. clear documentation of symptoms consistent with BPPV as well as a positive Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre or supine log roll test. A positive Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre was defined as objective nystagmus (observed with naked eye or with video-Frenzel goggles) and/or subjective vertigo.