The Dizziness Handicap Inventory and sickness absence: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the association between the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and sickness absence from work in patients with dizziness.

Material and methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted at an otolaryngology clinic with 238 patients referred for a suspected vestibular disorder during a 1-year period. The association between sickness absence over the last 30 days and DHI was examined with binary and ordinal logistic regression. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS), health-related quality of life (RAND-12), duration of dizziness, diagnosis, age and gender were used as adjustments variables.

Results

The adjusted analysis showed that a 10-point increase on DHI was associated with an increased risk of sickness absence (yes/no) (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.25–1.90, p < 0.001). In addition, a 10-point increase in DHI-score was associated with a higher degree of sickness absence (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.25–1.80, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

A higher DHI-score was associated with sickness absence in addition to the duration of absence the previous month. These results indicate the relevance and clinical usefulness of the DHI as a possible indicator of sickness absence from work in patients with dizziness regardless of diagnosis.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Approximately half of patients referred to a dizziness clinic have sickness absence.

• A higher score on The Dizziness Handicap Inventory is associated with longer duration of sickness absence.

• A vestibular diagnosis was not associated with sickness absence.

• The results indicate that the Dizziness Handicap Inventory may be a clinically useful tool for identifying patients with a high risk of sickness absence.

Keywords:

• Disability
• dizziness
• sickness absence
• vestibular disorders
• patient reported outcomes

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the study nurses and physiotherapists at both clinics for contributing to the recruitment and assessment of participants in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).