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Minimal Clinically Important Difference of Vestibular Migraine Patient Assessment Tool and Handicap Inventory (VM-PATHI)

Gardi A, Hum M, Wong D, Allen I, Sharon JD

Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 2025

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To calculate the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the Vestibular Migraine Patient Assessment Tool and Handicap Inventory (VM-PATHI).

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: A single tertiary care balance and falls center.

METHODS: Fifty-three subjects meeting Barany Society criteria for vestibular migraine (VM) or probable VM were included and divided into 3 treatment groups. Treatment was not standardized, instead, management was decided individually between each patient and their provider. All subjects completed VM-PATHI before and after intervention. A Global Rating of Change (GRoC) questionnaire was also completed following intervention. Anchor-based methods, using a GRoC questionnaire, were utilized to estimate the MCID that produced the highest sensitivity and specificity on a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTS: Forty-three subjects were classified as responders and 10 were classified as nonresponders. The mean VM-PATHI pretreatment score minus the posttreatment score between the responders (mean = 14, SD 13) and nonresponders (mean = 4 SD = 12) was statistically significant (mean difference = 10, 95% confidence interval, CI [1, 20], P = .03). The VM-PATHI score change cutoff that best differentiated between responders and nonresponders was a VM-PATHI change of 6. Thus, the MCID was defined as a change of 6 points (sensitivity = 72%, specificity = 70%). The area under the ROC curve was 0.89, 95% CI [0.80, 0.98],…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.

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