Seasonality and solar radiation variation level in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Abstract

Background: Several studies have shown that the incidence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) presents seasonal variations and there is evidence that the variation in time is dependent on the patient’s amount of vitamin D.

Objectives: This is a retrospective study to verify if there is a correlation between the incidence of BPPV and the level of solar radiation, essential for the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin.

Material and methods: This study comprised 214 patients with BPPV seen from 2012 to 2017, in a city Latitude: −30.0277, Longitude: −51.2287 30° 1′ 40″ South, 51° 13′ 43″ West. The amounts of monthly solar radiation were analyzed in relation to the dates of their first consultations. Statistical tests were employed to verify the existence of a correlation between solar radiation and the incidence of the disease.

Results: The statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the incidence of BPPV and the amount of radiation during the month of the diagnosis of the disease. There was also a significant statistical correlation with the climatic variation.

Conclusion: More patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) are seen in consultation in the months with low solar radiation and in the autumn and winter seasons, in this geographic city.

Chinese abstract

背景：若干研究表明良性阵发性位置性眩晕（BPPV）的发生率呈现季节性变化, 并且有证据表明这种时间性变化取决于患者的维生素D含量。

目的：这是一项回顾性研究, 旨在验证BPPV发病率与太阳辐射水平之间是否存在相关性, 后者对于皮肤中维生素D的合成至关重要。

材料和方法：该研究包括214名BPPV患者。他们在2012年至2017年期间就诊。就诊城市位置为：纬度-30.0277, 经度-51.2287, 南 30°1'40″, 西51°13'43″。分析了每月太阳辐射量与其首次就诊日期的相关性。采用统计检验来验证太阳辐射与疾病发病率之间是否存在相关性。

结果：统计分析显示, 在疾病确诊的当月, BPPV的发生率与放射量之间存在显著差异。与气候变化也存在着显著的统计学相关性。

结论：在这个地理位置的城市中, 在太阳辐射低的月份和秋冬季节, 更多的良性阵发性位置性眩晕（BPPV）患者就诊。

Keywords:

• BPPV
• seasonality
• solar radiation
• vitamin D

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.