Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Comorbid Conditions for Meniere's Disease

Objectives: The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of Meniere's disease and investigate its relationship with: demographic factors; symptoms and conditions that are known or hypothesized to be associated with Meniere's disease; other physical diseases; mental health. Design: The authors used cross-sectional data from the UK Biobank to compare 1376 self-reported Meniere's participants with over 500,000 without Meniere's. The data set has comprehensive anthropometric measures, questionnaire data investigating health, well-being, diet, and medical and drug-prescribing history for each participant. The authors used logistic regression models to investigate the relationship of Meniere's disease with: demographic factors; symptoms and conditions that are known or hypothesized to be associated with Meniere's disease; other physical diseases; and mental health. Results: Meniere's disease was more common in participants who were older (adjusted odds ratio per 10-year increase: 1.5 [95% confidence interval: 1.4-1.6]), white (odds ratio: 1.7; 1.2-2.3), female (1.4; 1.3-1.6), and having higher body mass index categories (p < 0.001). The Meniere's group had greater odds of hearing difficulty (10.9; 9.6-12.5), current tinnitus (68.3; 47.8-97.5), and had fallen more than once in the last year (2.1; 1.8-2.5). Meniere's participants had greater odds of reporting at least one disease from each grouping of allergic, immune dysfunction, or autonomic dysfunction (2.2; 1.8-2.6), and poor mental health (2.1; 1.8-2.5). Conclusions: This study provides an evidence base that improves understanding of Meniere's disease. Associations were noted with a number of diseases, and the authors hypothesize a role for the autonomic nervous system and immune system dysfunction in Meniere's etiology. The study also highlights the physical and mental health correlates of the condition.