Dizziness in adults with chronic otitis media at two otology referral centres in Colombia: a cross-sectional study in a middle-income country.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dizziness and its associated factors in patients with COM at two otologic referral centres in a middle-income country. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Adults with and without COM diagnosis from two otology-referral centres in Bogotá (Colombia) were included. Dizziness and quality of life were assessed using the "Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media Questionnaire-12" (COMQ-12), and sociodemographic questionnaires were applied. Otoscopic evaluation and audiometric data were collected. STUDY SAMPLE A total of 231 adults. RESULTS: Of the 231 participants, up to 64.5% (n = 149) reported at least mild inconvenience due to dizziness. Factors associated with dizziness included female sex (aPR 1.23; 95% CI 1.04-1.46), chronic suppurative otitis media (aPR 3.02; 95% CI 1.21-7.52), and severe tinnitus (aPR 1.75; 95% CI 1.24-2.48). An interaction was found between socioeconomic status and educational level, with more frequent reports of dizziness in the middle/high economic status and secondary education (aPR 3.09; 95% CI 0.52-18.55; p < 0.001). Differences of 14 points in symptom severity and 18.5 points in the total score of the COMQ-12 were found between the groups with dizziness and without dizziness. CONCLUSIONS: Dizziness was frequent in patients with COM and was associated with severe tinnitus and quality of life deterioration.