Vestibular migraine (VM) is a common cause of dizziness that is underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and challenging to effectively treat. The prevalence, appropriate diagnostic workup, and therapies for VM in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) remain understudied. The objective of this scoping review is to evaluate the current state of VM research in LLMICs.
Methods
PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched to execute a scoping review of VM. Keywords “vestibular diseases” and “vertigo” were used in combination with terms referring to LLMICs as defined by the World Bank. Title and abstract screening, full-text review, and data collection were conducted by two authors independently.
Results
Twenty-six studies were included in the scoping review. Most studies were cross-sectional (57.7%) or case studies/series (23.1%) and were conducted in urban settings only (92.3%). Geographic distribution of studies was skewed, with 65.4% of articles originating from India. The prevalence of VM among clinic patients ranged from 0.3% to 33.3%. VM most frequently presented as headache, nausea and vomiting, and photophobia. Radiographic imaging, audiometry, and electronystagmography/videonystagmography were the three most commonly utilized diagnostic modalities in the dizziness workup. The most studied pharmacotherapies included calcium channel blockers, followed by beta-blockers and antiepileptics. Case studies and series discussed less common VM pharmacotherapies, such as ayurvedic medicine.
Conclusions
There is a need for more VM research in LLMICs, including innovative diagnostic approaches and therapies that can improve VM care globally. Equitable partnerships between LLMIC and high-income country researchers must expand vestibular research capacity and productivity in LLMICs.
Keywords: Vestibular migraine, Migraine, Global, Otolaryngology, Scoping review
Author Biographies
Eric Kim, aThe Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA
bDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
Amina Seguya, aThe Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA
cEar, Nose and Throat Surgeon, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
May Thaw, aThe Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA
dEye, ORL-HNS Hospital, Mandalay, Myanmar
Peggy Tahir, aThe Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA
eUCSF Library, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
Eric Formeister, aThe Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA
fDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
Christopher Waterworth, aThe Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA
hNossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Ali Jaffer, aThe Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative, USA
iHearWell Audiology Clinic, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Click on "Archives" to access the full archive of scientific preprints. You may use the categories and the search functionality to find select preprints you're interested in.
