Vestibular Vertigo and Disparities in Healthcare Access Among Adults in the United States

Objective:Vertigo and dizziness have a high lifetime prevalence with significant impacts on daily life. We sought to explore differences in access to and ability to afford care among adults with vestibular vertigo by race/ethnicity, income, and insurance type. Design:This is a cross-sectional study using the 2016 National Health Interview Survey. A total of 32,047 adults who completed the 2016 National Health Interview Survey Balance Supplement were analyzed. We used a previously validated definition of vertigo defined as (1) positional vertigo, (2) rotational vertigo, or (3) recurrent dizziness with nausea and either oscillopsia or imbalance. We examined several self-reported measures of healthcare utilization and access. Results:Among adults with vestibular vertigo, African Americans had significantly increased odds of delayed care due to lack of transportation; Hispanic ethnicity was associated with decreased odds of skipping medication doses and asking a doctor for a lower-cost medication. Adults with public insurance had significantly lower odds of reporting delayed care due to worry about cost, not receiving medical care due to cost, and delayed filling of a prescription, but had greater odds of reporting delayed care due to lack of transportation. Lack of insurance and lower income were associated with increased odds of delaying and not receiving care due to cost. Conclusion:These findings demonstrate significant differences in access to care among adults with vestibular vertigo in the United States based on race, income, and health insurance status.