BACKGROUND: Limited, outdated, and poor quality data are available on the prevalence of tinnitus, particularly in Italy. METHODS: A face-to-face survey was conducted in 2014 on 2,952 individuals, who represented the Italian population aged 18 or more (50.6 million). Any tinnitus was defined as the presence of ringing or buzzing in the ears lasting for at least 5 min in the previous 12 months. RESULTS: Any tinnitus was reported by 6.2% of Italian adults, chronic tinnitus (i.e. for more than 3 months) by 4.8%, and severe tinnitus (i.e. which constitutes a big or very big problem) by 1.2%. The corresponding estimates for the population aged ≥45 years were 8.7, 7.4 and 2.0%, respectively. Multivariable analysis on population aged ≥45 years revealed that old age (odds ratio (OR) = 4.49 for ≥75 vs. 45-54 years) and obesity (OR = 2.14 compared to normal weight) were directly related to any tinnitus, and high monthly family income (OR = 0.50) and moderate alcohol consumption (OR = 0.59 for <7 drinks/week vs. non-drinking) were inversely related. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on tinnitus prevalence among the general Italian adult population. It indicates that in Italy tinnitus affects more than 3 million adults and is felt as a major problem by more than 600,000 Italians, mostly aged 45 years or more.
BACKGROUND: Limited, outdated, and poor quality data are available on the prevalence of tinnitus, particularly in Italy. METHODS: A face-to-face survey was conducted in 2014 on 2,952 individuals, who represented the Italian population aged 18 or more (50.6 million). Any tinnitus was defined as the presence of ringing or buzzing in the ears lasting for at least 5 min in the previous 12 months. RESULTS: Any tinnitus was reported by 6.2% of Italian adults, chronic tinnitus (i.e. for more than 3 months) by 4.8%, and severe tinnitus (i.e. which constitutes a big or very big problem) by 1.2%. The corresponding estimates for the population aged ≥45 years were 8.7, 7.4 and 2.0%, respectively. Multivariable analysis on population aged ≥45 years revealed that old age (odds ratio (OR) = 4.49 for ≥75 vs. 45-54 years) and obesity (OR = 2.14 compared to normal weight) were directly related to any tinnitus, and high monthly family income (OR = 0.50) and moderate alcohol consumption (OR = 0.59 for <7 drinks/week vs. non-drinking) were inversely related. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on tinnitus prevalence among the general Italian adult population. It indicates that in Italy tinnitus affects more than 3 million adults and is felt as a major problem by more than 600,000 Italians, mostly aged 45 years or more.
Authors: Ning Chia Chang; Chia Yen Dai; Wen Yi Lin; Hua Ling Yang; Hsun Mo Wang; Chen Yu Chien; Kuen Yao Ho Journal: J Int Adv Otol Date: 2019-04 Impact factor: 1.017
Authors: Jose A Lopez-Escamez; Thanos Bibas; Rilana F F Cima; Paul Van de Heyning; Marlies Knipper; Birgit Mazurek; Agnieszka J Szczepek; Christopher R Cederroth Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2016-08-19 Impact factor: 4.677
Authors: Ilias Trochidis; Alessandra Lugo; Elisa Borroni; Christopher R Cederroth; Rilana Cima; Dimitris Kikidis; Berthold Langguth; Winfried Schlee; Silvano Gallus Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-26 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Jenny X Chen; Jonathon P Whitton; Aravindakshan Parthasarathy; Kenneth E Hancock; Daniel B Polley Journal: Otol Neurotol Date: 2020-10 Impact factor: 2.619