Prevalence of vestibular migraine in an otolaryngologic clinic: Preliminary clinical diagnosis versus diagnosis according to the strictly applied Bárány criteria.

Background: Diagnostic criteria of vestibular migraine (VM) by the Bárány classification consists of complex combinations of characteristics of dizziness: episodes, intensity, duration, migraine according to International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD), and migraine features accompanying vertigo. The prevalence according to strictly applied Bárány criteria may be much lower than preliminary clincal diagnosis.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of VM according to strictly applied Bárány criteria among dizzy patients who visited the otolaryngology department.

Methods: The medical records of patients with dizziness from December 2018 to November 2020 were retrospectively searched using a clinical big data system. The patients completed a questionnaire designed to identify VM according to Bárány classification. Microsoft Excel function formulas were used to identify cases that met the criteria.

Results: During the study period, 955 new patients visited the otolaryngology department complaining of dizziness, of which 11.6% were assessed as preliminary clinical diagnosis of VM in outpatient clinic. However, VM according to strictly applied Bárány criteria accounted for only 2.9% of dizzy patients.

Conclusion: The prevalence of VM according to strictly applied Bárány criteria could be significantly lower than that of preliminary clinical diagnosis in outpatient clinic.