Impaired Quality of Sleep in Meniere's Disease Patients

Objective: To evaluate the quality of sleep in Meniere's disease patients with the use of polysomnography. Study Design: Prospective study using polysomnography administered in patients diagnosed as "Definite Meniere's disease cases" according to the guidelines of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Methods: Thirty-five patients, 17 male and 18 female, aged 31 to 71 (58 average) years with active, unilateral, cochleovestibular Meniere's disease refractory to medical management underwent polysomnography. The results were compared with 35 healthy controls matched for age and sex. All participants underwent full-night polysomnography, and a sleep medicine physician interpreted the results. Results: Total sleeping time in Meniere's disease was significantly higher than in controls. Stage 2 sleep was significantly longer and stage 3+4 shorter in Meniere's disease than controls, while there was no difference of stage 1 and REM. Arousal index was significantly higher in Meniere's disease than in controls. Five cases of severe OSAS were found in Meniere's disease and 4 cases in controls; 4 cases of PLMD were found in patients and 3 in controls. Conclusions: Our finding of decreased deep sleep and an elevated arousal index is a striking new finding in Meniere's disease. This poor quality of sleep in Meniere's disease patients has received little attention in the past, but may cause additional stress and lead to a negative spiral of symptoms.