VM-PATHI Correlates With Cognitive Function Improvement After Successful Treatment in Patients With Vestibular Migraine

Abstract

Objective To assess changes in cognitive function in vestibular migraine patients undergoing treatment. Study Design Prospective cohort. Setting Single-institution tertiary-care center. Patients Thirty-four patients with vestibular migraine were included in the study. Average age at diagnosis was 47.9 years. A majority of patients (91.2%) were female. Interventions Vestibular therapies included pharmacologic treatment (67.6%), mindfulness-based stress reduction (58.8%), vestibular physical therapy (20.6%), and lifestyle changes only (2.9%). Main Outcome Measures Pretreatment and posttreatment questionnaires were collected including the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), Vestibular Migraine Patient Assessment Tool and Handicap Inventory (VM-PATHI), and Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Results Median time between pretreatment and posttreatment questionnaire was 4.4 months (range, 2.8–15.6. mo). CFQ scores decreased in subjects who responded to treatment, as defined by those with a positive change in VM-PATHI score (average decrease, 6.5; p = 0.03). CFQ scores did not improve in subjects who had no improvement in their vestibular condition, as defined by no change or an increase in VM-PATHI score (average increase, 2.0; p = 0.53). Univariate linear regression showed that VM-PATHI score change was highly predictive of CFQ change (p < 0.01, r 2 = 0.36). Multivariate regression demonstrated that the VM-PATHI (p = 0.03) and not the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (p = 0.10) predicted changes in CFQ score. Conclusions Self-reported cognitive dysfunction improves with successful treatment of vestibular migraine.