ArticleBJGP open2025
Anti-vertigo drug prescribing for patients with vestibular symptoms in primary care: a retrospective observational cohort study.
Article in BJGP open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Factors influencing appropriate vestibular care: An interview study with general practitioners and patients.The European journal of general practice · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThere is limited evidence that anti-vertigo drugs (AVDs) are effective in patients with vestibular symptoms. Still, betahistine is one of the most frequently prescribed off-label drugs. GPs are likely to contribute substantially to these potentially inappropriate prescriptions.
aimTo evaluate the frequency of (long-term) AVD prescriptions in primary care and characteristics associated with long-term prescriptions. DESIGN &
settingWe conducted a retrospective observational cohort study using anonymised routine primary care data from ≥1.2 million patients registered at 269 general practices throughout the Netherlands, covering the period 2018-2021.
methodWe included adult patients with vestibular symptoms and/or AVD prescriptions. Outcomes were the prevalence and incidence of (long-term) AVD prescriptions. We used a multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify characteristics associated with long-term prescriptions.
resultsAmong 66718 patients with vestibular symptoms, 6172 patients (9%) received AVD prescriptions of which 32% were long term. The majority of patients with prescriptions and long-term prescriptions (88% and 77%, respectively) had any other vestibular disorder than Ménière's disease. Still, Ménière's disease was associated with long-term prescriptions as well as increasing age. Patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and a symptom diagnosis of lightheadedness were less likely to receive long-term prescriptions, in addition to patients registered at practices in extremely urbanised areas.
conclusionAVD prescriptions, including long-term prescriptions, are common among patients with a wide array of vestibular symptoms and disorders, despite limited evidence. Management of vestibular symptoms by GPs can be improved by reducing these potentially inappropriate prescriptions.
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