Higher incidence of Ménière’s disease during COVID-19 pandemic: a preliminary report.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represented a stressful event. Objectives: The incidence of newly diagnosed Meniere’s disease (MD) patients before and during COVID-19 at our Institution was calculated. Materials and methods: The period 2018–2020 was considered. Incidence was calculated as number of annual first MD diagnoses divided by the number of annual first audiological evaluations. Results: One hundred and eighty-three patients were considered. Annual incidence of MD at our institution was 1.3% in 2018, 1.2% in 2019, and 3.2% in 2020, resulting in a significant increase during COVID-19 pandemic (2018 vs. 2020, p=.00001; 2019 vs. 2020, p=.00001). MD patients in 2020 presented a higher number of vertigo attacks (2018 vs. 2020, p=.04; 2019 vs. 2020, p=.04) and higher Dizziness Handicap Inventory questionnaire (DHI) values (2018 vs. 2020, p=.02; 2019 vs. 2020, p=.03). During COVD-19 pandemic, MD patients reported significantly higher State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) – Y1 (2018 vs. 2020, p=.04; 2019 vs. 2020, p=.03). Conclusions and significance: A higher incidence of MD first diagnosis was calculated during COVID- 19 pandemic; furthermore, MD patients presented with more vertigo attacks and higher DHI values. These could be associated with the higher state anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic.