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Objective: Vertigo and dizziness are the common presenting concerns in emergency departments and outpatient clinics, accounts for approximately 15% to 20% of adults annually. We aimed to evaluate economic burden of vertigo on health-care system and work productivity in association between clinic characteristics of in- or outpatients.Methods: A total number of 2289 patients diagnosed with peripheric (noncentral) vertigo were evaluated retrospectively. The direct medical costs associated with vertigo classified as medication, consumable, imaging, and laboratory. In addition, the indirect costs were associated with lost working days. The overall economic impact of vertigo assessed via total expenditure for diagnosis and treatment.Results: The mean duration of hospitalization was 5.6 ± 4.3 days and working day lost was 9.47 ± 3.90 days. The overall impact on work productivity of disease was 15.35 ± 6.11 days. The overall mean direct cost including all expenditure items associated with vertigo care was $250.25 ± $1479.62 per patient. The overall cost associated with vertigo was found to be statistically increased in the male, aged ≥65 years, widow or divorced, and hospitalized patients.Conclusions: Our findings clearly indicate that a vertigo–dizziness management program based on patients’ risk factors may achieve to reduce hospitalizations and cost of hospital care as well.

Objective: Vitamin B12 deficiency-induced hyperhomocysteinemia has been associated with impaired microarterial flow, demyelization, and neuronal damage, resulting in cochlear damage and auditory dysfunction. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the possible vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) abnormalities in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency.Material and Method: In this prospective study, 37 patients diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency (<220 pg/mL) were compared with 31 audiologically healthy participants with normal B12 levels. Burst-evoked cervical VEMP (cVEMP) measurements were performed on all participants. Additionally, cVEMP responses were analyzed for P1-N1 latency, interpeak amplitude, and amplitude asymmetry ratio. The results of audiometric examination and VEMP records as well as absent responses were evaluated and compared between groups.Results: The rate of absent VEMP responses was twice as high in the patient group than in the healthy control group (12 vs 6 cases, respectively). Moreover, the mean values of interpeak amplitude in both right and left ears were statistically shorter in the patient group than the control group (Pvalues = .024 and .007, respectively). Similarly, the mean amplitude asymmetry ratio was statistically higher in the patient group than the control group (P= .050). There were no statistically significant differences in latency responses between groups. Furthermore, positive, statistically significant correlation was detected between values of the left P1-N1 interpeak amplitude and vitamin B12 levels (r= 0.287, P= .037).Conclusions: Increased rates of absent VEMPs and decreased amplitudes with normal latencies are attributed to peripheral vestibular hypofunction in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency.

Laryngeal carcinomas are the most common upper respiratory tract cancers and most commonly involve the glottic region. The aim of this study is to evaluate the voice quality after radiotherapy (RT) and microsurgical cordectomy (MC) treatments using Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Astenicity, and Strain (GRBAS) perceptual evaluation scale in patients with early-stage glottic carcinoma. A total of 37 patients with early-stage glottic carcinomas, 19 patients had RT and 18 patients with MC, were included in our study. The patients were evaluated in terms of their sound quality by using VHI-10 and GRBAS perceptual assessment scale 3 months after the treatment was completed. Although the findings were better in favor of RT according to GRBAS perceptual assessment scale of patients who received RT (n = 19) and MC (n = 18), no statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups (P= .613). Patients in both groups were evaluated with VHI-10, emotional (P= .036) and physiological (P= .038) scores were significantly higher in MC group and no significant difference was found in functional scores (P= .192). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of voice quality (P= .185). In early-stage (Tis, T1a, T1b) glottic carcinoma, there was no significant difference between RT and MC in terms of voice quality. Therefore, the choice of treatment modality in patients with early-stage glottic carcinoma should be taken into account in terms of the patient’s occupation, comorbid diseases, cost of treatment, hospital stay, and, most importantly, patient preference.