Main findings
We identified statistically significant correlation between BPPV
recurrences and age, indicating that recurrences are more likely in the
elderly. We also identified a statistically significant correlation
between age and having persistent BPPV. We did not identify any links
between socioeconomic factors/deprivation in either recurrent or
persistent BPPV. To our knowledge our study represents the first
analysis of the association between socioeconomic variables and
persistent or recurrent BPPV, not demonstrating, as above, any
significant relationship between SIMD and having persistent BPPV, nor
did it show any link between SIMD and having a higher number of
recurrences of BPPV. This result is interesting as most disease
processes appear to have a link with increased
deprivation.6
Additionally, although a larger proportion of our patients had a
diagnosis of the anxiety or depression, no relationship was found
between having anxiety or depression and having more frequent or
persistent BPPV. While previous work by Wei et al showed a statistically
significant relationship between depression and recurrence of BPPV, in
our cohort, we failed to show such correlation.7