Since 1975, the Research Committee on Ménière's Disease (MD) and Peripheral Vestibular Disorders in Japan has conducted several nation-wide and regional surveys according to the drafted criteria. The data collected were analyzed, and compared with control data obtained from other vertiginous, ENT patients and healthy subjects.
The epidemiological characteristics obtained from these surveys were compared with that from surveys in foreign country, and were summarized as follows.
1) In MD, the male to female ratio has changed from even to a female prevalence over the past 15 years in Japan.
2) The distribution of age at onset peaked in the forties for males, and thirties for females in all nation-wide surveys.
3) In all nation-wide surveys, there was apparently a higher prevalence of MD among the so-called white-collar workers than among blue-collar workers.
4) The geographical distribution of MD was characterized by a preponderance in the southern area of Japan on the 1st and 2nd surveys.
5) The vertiginous attacks often occurred during regular working hours (9-17 h), and often resulted from mental and physical fatigue, and insomnia.
6) In MD, precise and neurosis were more frequently observed than in non-MD vertigo.
7) On meteorogical observations in Toyama, the onset of MD was specifically influenced by the passing of a cold front.
8) From nation-wide and regional surveys, the prevalence in Japan was estimated at about 16-38 per 100, 000.
From these observations, it was reconfirmed that the occurrence of vertiginous attacks in MD is influenced much more by individual than by environmental factors.
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