Abbott Drives Vertigo Understanding With its New Survey and “Chakkar ko Check Kar” Campaign

• Abbott commissioned an IQVIA survey among 1,250 people in India to better understand struggles experienced by people living with vertigo
• Close to 70 million people in India have symptoms related to vertigo[i]
• To drive more awareness on the condition and encourage early diagnosis, Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana talks about his journey of managing vertigo effectively

Bengaluru – Abbott, the global healthcare leader, launched its ‘Chakkar Ko Check Kar’ campaign in India to highlight an often-overlooked balance disorder, vertigo, which affects close to 70 million people in India. Vertigo is a condition that can make people feel like the world is spinning around them. Through this campaign, Abbott aims to help people take control of their health and better manage the condition.

To give the world a window into the disorienting reality of vertigo, Abbott kickstarted the campaign through a digital film, which features Bollywood actor and UNICEF India Ambassador, Ayushmann Khurrana. It paints a vivid picture of how vertigo’s sudden spinning episodes can throw life off balance, urging those who resonate with these experiences to take action.

Ayushmann Khurrana, sharing his personal experience with vertigo, said, “Dealing with vertigo has been a challenge, but it taught me the power of resilience. Diagnosed in 2016, every sudden movement made the world spin around me. Amidst demanding film schedules, the constant fear of an impending dizzy spell was daunting. However, finding the right medication

and embracing meditation helped me manage my condition completely. While it can feel like a tough condition to manage but it’s crucial to remember that it’s a battle you can win. I hope my journey inspires others to seek the help they need and navigate life with renewed confidence.”

His experience is not uncommon. There are millions suffering from this condition silently and confusing it for a normal chakkar. Getting the right diagnosis and treatment at the right time and making key lifestyle changes is important to manage this condition and stay in control of your health.

Dr Jejoe Karankumar, Medical Director, Abbott India added, “Around 70 million Indians experience vertigo. While this balance disorder can affect people’s quality of life, it can be managed. Abbott aims to simplify the journey of people living with vertigo by raising awareness and empowering them with knowledge and tools that can help recognize signs of the condition, to get timely medical advice and support and live fulfilling lives.”

An integral part of the campaign is the survey conducted by Abbott in collaboration with IQVIA. The survey findings help understand the realities of people living with vertigo in India. This survey was conducted across Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, and Kolkata, with insights from 1,250 respondents. These included vertigo patients and caregivers as well as people with family members experiencing dizziness and are not yet diagnosed with the condition.

Vertigo: A Significant Struggle

Imagine a world that spins uncontrollably, causing headaches, double vision, and a blackout feeling. This is the reality for those living with vertigo. The Abbott and IQVIA survey sheds light on how this condition impacts people’s lives, personally, and for people around them too.

• Personal Life: Vertigo doesn’t just cause spinning. It has significant impact on personal lives, with 34% cancelling important events, 33% experiencing frequent anger or annoyance, and 26% fearing damage to their relationships with family members.
• Triggers: The leading triggers of vertigo are anxiety or stress (39%), travelling (34%), and changes in weather (30%).
• Symptoms: Each vertigo episode can bring a range of symptoms, including headaches (52%), double vision (43%), a blackout feeling (40%), heaviness in the head (37%), and neck pain (28%).
• Family Life and Travel: Vertigo can affect patients’ abilities to look after their family (23%) and reduces family quality time (23%). It also creates discomfort when using public transport or air travel (19%).

Despite its effects, only 48% of people reporting dizziness get tested for symptoms. On average, vertigo is diagnosed at 38 years of age, with around one fourth of patients experiencing an attack once a month. Certain myths persist around vertigo, with 21% of patients believing that this condition only affects the elderly, and 15% feeling that it is untreatable and contagious. Only half of vertigo patients take medication, despite the far-reaching impact on their personal lives, which can include avoiding to travel in vehicles (34%), and reducing screen time (30%) to minimize the likelihood of a vertigo episode. This data paints a vivid picture of the hidden struggles faced by those living with vertigo.

The survey also uncovered interesting findings Bengaluru specifically. For example, vertigo has a great impact on patients’ professional lives in the region, including affecting concentration resulting in lower performance (31%) and impacting ability to take on more responsibility (22%) as well as career progression (18%). Additionally, vertigo also impacts people’s personal lives in the city: 30% cancel important events, while 35% frequently get angry or annoyed.