Environmental drivers of vertigo

Background: Vertigo is characterized by the illusion of motion, typically described as a spinning sensation. Seasonal variations in vertigo incidence, particularly in Meniere’s disease and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, have been reported, though underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Objective: This study investigates key environmental drivers by analyzing seasonal patterns of vertigo while accounting for temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, and viral infections in Israel’s semi-arid Negev desert. We hypothesized that environmental conditions are associated with the onset of vertigo, and that specific meteorological factors contribute to its seasonal variation. Methods: A case-crossover study was conducted using data from 9,382 patients diagnosed with vertigo at Soroka Medical Center (2014–2019). Environmental exposure data were collected from local meteorological station, and viral infection trends were analyzed. Results: Exposure to barometric pressure above the 90th percentile for two consecutive days was linked to a 21% increase in vertigo risk (p= 0.024), rising to 40% (p= 0.073) among hypertensive patients. In spring, exposure to extreme dry heat (>2 days) showed a trend toward increased vertigo risk. Similarly, vertigo onset was likely to be triggered by heatwaves stress and extremely humid conditions in fall although none reached a statistical significance. Conclusions: This study suggests that atmospheric conditions, particularly high barometric pressure, may influence vertigo onset. While not all associations were statistically significant, observed trends highlight the potential role of environmental factors in vertigo and warrant further research.