Demographic Variations in VEMP Responses: A Cross-Sectional Study of Normative Data from an Indian Population

Sanjay Kumar; Rashmi Natraj; Angshuman Dutta

doi:10.1007/s12070-024-05043-6

Demographic Variations in VEMP Responses: A Cross-Sectional Study of Normative Data from an Indian Population

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 Dec;76(6):5602-5609. doi: 10.1007/s12070-024-05043-6. Epub 2024 Sep 6.

Authors

Sanjay Kumar¹, Rashmi Natraj¹, Angshuman Dutta¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Ear, Nose, Throat - Head and Neck Surgery (ENT-HNS), Command Hospital Airforce, Bangalore, Karnataka 560007 India.

PMID: 39559124
PMCID: PMC11569086 (available on 2025-12-01)
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-024-05043-6

Abstract

This study aimed to establish normative data for cervical (cVEMP) and ocular (oVEMP) vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in the Indian population, with a focus on assessing demographic variations across different age groups and genders. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted from January 2023 to December 2023 at a tertiary care center, involving 40 participants with normal hearing thresholds. Standardized cVEMP and oVEMP tests were performed using 500 Hz tone bursts at 95-115 dB nHL. VEMP responses, including latency and amplitude, were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis tests to determine normative ranges and assess the impact of age and gender. The study established normative VEMP thresholds at about 105 dB for cervical (cVEMP) and ocular (oVEMP) responses, notably higher than the global average of 70-100 dB, suggesting unique regional variations in the Indian demographic. Normative values ranged from 45.68 at the 5th percentile to 92.32 at the 95th percentile for cVEMPs, and 13.12 to 18.58 for oVEMPs. Data analysis showed exceptionally stable VEMP responses with minimal age-related decline-significantly less than typically seen in Western populations, and no significant gender differences, indicating consistent vestibular function across diverse demographic groups. This research significantly enhances the diagnostic framework for vestibular disorders in India by establishing tailored normative VEMP data. These benchmarks facilitate precise clinical assessments and support the development of customized treatment protocols, improving healthcare outcomes for vestibular dysfunctions.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-024-05043-6.

Keywords: Age variations; Diagnostic accuracy; Gender differences; Indian population; Normative data; VEMPs; Vestibular function.

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