Symptom severity and quality of life in patients with concurrent neck pain and dizziness

Abstract

Purpose: There is little knowledge on how neck pain impacts dizzy patients, and if different diagnoses of dizziness associate with neck pain. The aim was to examine differences in dizziness severity, quality of life and demographics in dizzy patients with and without neck pain. Additionally, we examined if neck pain was associated with a non-vestibular or vestibular diagnosis.

Methods: We included 236 consecutive patients referred to an otorhinolaryngological university clinic for vertigo and balance problems. The patients were divided in two groups: Patients with and without neck pain. Patient-reported outcomes measures were the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, RAND-12, neck pain and symptom duration.

Results: A total of 59% of the patients reported neck pain. Patients with neck pain reported poorer quality of life (p < .001) and worse handicap due to dizziness (p < .001). There were no associations between reported neck pain and dizziness of non-vestibular or vestibular origin (p = .29).

Conclusion: Neck pain is a common complaint among dizzy patients. Patients with concurrent dizziness and neck pain should warrant attention due to poorer general and dizziness-related quality of life. This finding appears unrelated to whether or not they receive a peripheral vestibular diagnosis.

IMPLICATION FOR REHABILITATION

• Neck pain is common in patients with dizziness and associated with higher dizziness handicap and lower quality of life.

• Neck pain should be addressed specifically in patients assessed for dizziness, irrespective of diagnosis.

• Further research is needed to better understand the interactions between neck pain and dizziness.

Keywords:

• Dizziness Handicap Inventory
• RAND12 health survey
• disability
• vestibular disorders

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank all the laboratory personnel and study nurse for making this research possible.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by National Advisory Unit on Vestibular Disorders.