Prevalence of Clinically Symptomatic Chronic Respiratory Alkalosis (CSCRA) in Patients Seen for Vestibular Assessment

Background/Objectives: Dizziness is a symptom of many disorders across a wide range of etiologies. If dizzy patients are seen for vestibular evaluation with an audiologist and no vestibular reason for the patient’s dizziness is found, the medical referral pathway can become convoluted. This can leave patients feeling discouraged and unable to manage their symptoms. Clinically symptomatic chronic respiratory alkalosis (CSCRA) is an acid–base disorder that typically presents with dizziness but is unfamiliar to practitioners in vestibular and balance care settings. Methods: In a retrospective chart review deemed exempt by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board, 74 patients at Mayo Clinic Arizona were included. All had consultations with both Audiology and Aerospace Medicine to assess their dizzy symptoms. Results: After completing vestibular testing, arterial blood gas (ABG) testing, and a functional test developed at Mayo Clinic Arizona called the Capnic Challenge test, 40% of patients were found to have CSCRA contributing to their dizzy symptoms. Many of these patients also had common comorbidities of CSCRA, like postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), migraines, and sleep apnea. Fewer than one-fourth of these patients had measurable vestibulopathies causing their dizziness. Half of the patients referred by the vestibular audiologist to Aerospace Medicine had a diagnosis of CSCRA. Conclusions: Assessment for CSCRA should be considered as a next step for patients presenting with dizziness without a vestibular component. Being aware of the prevalence of CSCRA and its comorbidities may help balance providers offer quality interprofessional referrals and improve patient quality of life.