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.