Hyperventilation Syndrome: Investigating the Relationship Between Nijmegen Questionnaire, Vestibular Function Tests, and Patient Symptoms

Hyperventilation Syndrome: Investigating the Relationship Between Nijmegen Questionnaire, Vestibular Function Tests, and Patient Symptoms: Objective:

To explore the Nijmegen Questionnaire (NQ) and its relationship to vestibular function tests and symptoms in patients with dizziness; to compare patient characteristics between those with a positive Nijmegen score and patients clinically diagnosed with hyperventilation syndrome (HVS).

Study Design:

Retrospective case series.

Setting:

Tertiary neurotology referral center.

Patients:

Patients seen at vestibular assessment were grouped according to positive (≥24) or negative ( 0.05). Symptoms commonly described by patients with positive Nijmegen scores include “blurred vision,” “tingling,” “anxiety,” “shortness of breath,” “palpitations,” “panic,” “numbness,” “chest pain,” and “chest tightness.” In contrast, when grouped by HVS diagnosis, patients with HVS were significantly more likely to have No Lesion detected on vestibular function testing (p = 0.0366). “Panic,” “anxiety,” and “tingling” were the only significant symptoms reported more often in the HVS diagnosis group, while “nausea/vomiting” and “vertigo” were reported significantly less frequently compared with the non-HVS diagnosis group.

Conclusions:

Hyperventilation is a complex stimulus, with some effects manifesting in neurotology clinics. This study reveals discrepancies in both vestibular assessment findings and symptom profiles between patients with a positive screening score in the NQ and patients clinically diagnosed with hyperventilation syndrome. This data will inform clinicians’ interpretation of the NQ in the neurotologic setting.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Manohar Bance, Box 48, ENT Department, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; E-mail: mlb59@cam.ac.uk

There are no sources of funding to declare.

The authors disclose no conflicts of interest.

Copyright © 2019 by Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Image copyright © 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health/Anatomical Chart Company