A single Epley manoeuvre can improve self-perceptions of disability (quality of life) in patients with pc-BPPV: A randomised controlled trial in primary care

Posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (pc-BPPV) causes physical, functional, and emotional impairment. The treatment is the Epley manoeuvre (EM).ObjectiveThe purpose of the study was to compare the impact of the EM and a sham manoeuvre in primary care on self-perceived disability.DesignRandomised, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial conducted in primary care with a follow-up of 1 year.ParticipantsPatients aged ≥18 years old diagnosed with pc-BPPV according to the Dix–Hallpike test (DHT) were randomised to:InterventionsIntervention (EM) group or a control (sham manoeuvre) group.Main measurementsThe main study covariates were age, sex, history of depression and anxiety, presence of nystagmus in the DHT, patient-perceived disability assessed with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory – screening version (DHI-S). Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate mixed Tobit analyses.ResultsOverall, 134 patients were studied: 66 in the intervention group and 68 in the control group. Median age was 52 years (interquartile range [IQR], 38.25–68.00 years. standard deviation, 16.98) and 76.12% of the patients were women. The DHT triggered nystagmus in 40.30% of patients. The median total DHI-S score for the overall sample at baseline was 16 (IQR, 8.00–22.00); 16 [IQR, 10.5–24.0] vs 10 [6.0–14.0] for women vs men (P < .001). Patients treated with the EM experienced a mean reduction of 2.03 points in DHI-S score over the follow-up period compared with patients in the sham group.ConclusionsPc-BPPV affects the quality of life of primary care patients. A single EM can improve self-perceptions of disability by around 2 points on the DHI-S scale.