Individuals with peripheral vestibulopathy and poor quality of sleep are at a higher risk for falls

Abstract Introduction There is a lack of scientific studies on the assessment of patients with vestibular disorders associated with sleep quality disorders and its impact on the balance and overall quality of life. Objectives to assess the impact of the sleep quality on the balance and quality of life of individuals with peripheral vestibulopathies. Methods 52 individuals with peripheral vestibulopathies underwent sleep quality assessment through the Pittsburgh sleep quality index, neurotological examination through dizziness handicap inventory and Tetrax posturography (Sunlight Medical Ltd.) in eight sensory conditions. Thirty-two healthy individuals (G3) participated as the control group. Results Fourteen individuals with vestibulopathy had good quality of sleep (G1) and 38 showed poor quality of sleep (G2) as demonstrated by the Pittsburgh sleep quality index global scores (p = 0.001). The dizziness handicap inventory showed worse impact of the dizziness on the quality of life in G2 when compared to G1 (p = 0.045). The G2 showed higher risk of falling in posturography when compared to G3 (p = 0.012) and higher index of postural instability in five sensory conditions in comparison with G3. In the vestibulopathy groups, the worse the sleep quality, the higher the risk of falling (r = 0.352) and the worse the quality of life (r = 0.327). Conclusion Individuals with peripheral vestibulopathies and poor quality of sleep demonstrate worse balance evidenced by increased postural instability, higher risk of falls and worse perceived quality of life. The quality of sleep is a predictive factor for worse perceived quality of life and for higher risk of falls in individuals with peripheral vestibulopathies.摘要 引言：目前针对合并睡眠质量异常的前庭疾病患者的评估，及其对平衡能力与整体生活质量的影响相关科学研究仍较为匮乏。 研究目的：评估睡眠质量对周围性前庭病变（peripheral vestibulopathies）患者平衡能力与生活质量的影响。 研究方法：招募52名周围性前庭病变患者，采用匹兹堡睡眠质量指数（Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index）评估其睡眠质量，通过眩晕残障量表（Dizziness Handicap Inventory）完成神经耳科检查，并借助Tetrax姿势图仪（Sunlight Medical Ltd.）在8种感觉条件下开展姿势描记检测。另招募32名健康受试者作为对照组（G3）参与本研究。 研究结果：依据匹兹堡睡眠质量指数总分，14名前庭病变患者睡眠质量良好（G1组），38名患者睡眠质量较差（G2组），组间差异具有统计学意义（p = 0.001）。相较于G1组，G2组的眩晕残障量表评分更高，提示眩晕对其生活质量的负面影响更为显著（p = 0.045）。与对照组G3相比，G2组的姿势图检查显示跌倒风险更高（p = 0.012），且在5种感觉条件下的姿势不稳指数均更高。在所有前庭病变患者亚组中，睡眠质量越差，跌倒风险越高（r = 0.352），生活质量也越差（r = 0.327）。 研究结论：合并睡眠质量较差的周围性前庭病变患者，其平衡能力更差，具体表现为姿势不稳程度升高、跌倒风险增加以及主观感知的生活质量更差。睡眠质量可作为预测周围性前庭病变患者主观生活质量下降与跌倒风险升高的影响因素。