A NEW DIAGNOSTIC ALGORITHM FOR VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION

Abstract

This article presents the development and evaluation of a new diagnostic algorithm for the differential diagnosis of peripheral vestibular pathologies at the early stage. For this purpose, a prospective study was conducted, including a group of patients who presented with complaints of dizziness at the ENT hospital between 2021 and 2023. The study was conducted with the approval of the ethics committee, and informed consent was obtained from all patients whose data were utilized. Among the 503 patients examined, statistical analysis was performed on the questionnaire results of 468 patients. The mean age of the patients was 47 years (range: 36–60), with 315 (67.3%) females and 153 (32.7%) males. Statistical analysis of the study data was carried out using SPSS Statistics v26 and SPSS Modeler v18 software. The study demonstrated that the use of a pre-established questionnaire before instrumental examination in patients with dizziness can play a significant role in the initial assessment and preliminary diagnosis. According to the statistical evaluation, the developed algorithm exhibited high specificity (73%), sensitivity (75%), and predictive value, making it applicable for clinical practice.