DizzyReg

Vertigo and Dizziness

„DizzyReg - The patient registry of the German Center for Vertigo and Balance disorders “

Funded by: BMBF

Period: 2015 – 2019

Background
Vertigo and dizziness are among the most common chief complaints when patients seek medical advice and can affect persons of all ages. With a high lifetime prevalence of 30% and high burden of disease, vertigo and dizziness can be severely disabling symptoms because of their high impact on daily life.
The interdisciplinary outpatient clinic of the German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders (DSGZ) at the Munich University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München treats more than 3000 patients per year. Up to now, data from the clinical investigations are decentrally stored at different locations each using different systems and formats. As a consequence, a systematic analysis is only possible with much effort. Therefore, the patient-based registry (DizzyReg) is an important element of the DSGZ.

Methods
Core data will be imported directly by sending an http-request to the clinical workplace system (KAS). Manual data input includes information on vertigo, such as duration and type of vertigo attacks, the clinical investigations, such as the video head impulse test to measure the vestibular-ocular reflex, and neurological examinations, such as the Romberg‘s test. Data sources currently include medical reports and examinations. Further measurements are collected by means of a questionnaire and include information on socio-demographic data, health care utilization, and health-related quality of life.
Data is stored on a virtual server with a static IP, fixed domain, and Secure Sockets Layer certificate situated at the hospital. Collection and management of the data is carried out in a browser-based data management system. Data will be released only anonymously and after a positive vote from an internal steering group.

Project Goals
The central access and storage to patient data in a prospective database can facilitate the interdisciplinary research and allows to prospectively analyze determinants and patient-relevant outcomes of different, even rare, vestibular disorders. Thus, DizzyReg might be able to open a new area of research.

Contact: Dr. Ralf Strobl