Inge Stegeman1, Robert H Eikelboom2, Adriana L Smit3, David M Baguley4, Romola S Bucks5, Robert J Stokroos3, Rebecca J Bennett6, Susan Tegg-Quinn6, Michael Hunter7, Marcus D Atlas6. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: i.stegeman@umcutrecht.nl. 2. Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, WA, Australia; Ear Sciences Centre, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Department of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. 3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 4. Hearing Sciences, Division of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; NIHR Bottingham Biomedical Research Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. 5. School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia. 6. Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, WA, Australia; Ear Sciences Centre, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia. 7. Busselton Health Study Centre, Busselton Population Medical Research Institute, Busselton, WA, Australia; School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A deeper knowledge of tinnitus is essential in order to better manage and treat tinnitus and its effects. Most studies to date are based on small samples and/or conducted in clinical settings. In this study we assessed the associations between tinnitus, general and mental health, hearing status and demographics in a large population cohort study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Busselton Healthy Aging Study recruited people born between 1946 and 1964. Data were collected between 2010 and 2015. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between tinnitus and its effect on daily life, age, gender, hearing, self-reported mental and general health, and doctor diagnosed health conditions. RESULTS: Of 5107 participants, 1154 (22.6%) reported experiencing tinnitus. Of those, 32.4% reported that their tinnitus had an occasional effect on their daily lives, while for a further 8.9% the effect on their daily life was frequent or constant. The odds ratio for having a SF12-PCS was (OR 1.02 (95%CI 1.01-1.03). Furthermore, individuals who experience their tinnitus as having an effect on their daily life, have an increased risk of having a lower general health (OR 1.04 (95%CI 1.02-1.03)) than those without tinnitus. Higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress, as well as doctor diagnosed depression, were all significant risk factors for tinnitus. There were statistically significant worse hearing thresholds related to the presence of tinnitus. CONCLUSION: The outcomes raise the question for clinicians and researchers whether addressing the mental and general health of individuals will influence the presence or burden of tinnitus.
BACKGROUND: A deeper knowledge of tinnitus is essential in order to better manage and treat tinnitus and its effects. Most studies to date are based on small samples and/or conducted in clinical settings. In this study we assessed the associations between tinnitus, general and mental health, hearing status and demographics in a large population cohort study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Busselton Healthy Aging Study recruited people born between 1946 and 1964. Data were collected between 2010 and 2015. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between tinnitus and its effect on daily life, age, gender, hearing, self-reported mental and general health, and doctor diagnosed health conditions. RESULTS: Of 5107 participants, 1154 (22.6%) reported experiencing tinnitus. Of those, 32.4% reported that their tinnitus had an occasional effect on their daily lives, while for a further 8.9% the effect on their daily life was frequent or constant. The odds ratio for having a SF12-PCS was (OR 1.02 (95%CI 1.01-1.03). Furthermore, individuals who experience their tinnitus as having an effect on their daily life, have an increased risk of having a lower general health (OR 1.04 (95%CI 1.02-1.03)) than those without tinnitus. Higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress, as well as doctor diagnosed depression, were all significant risk factors for tinnitus. There were statistically significant worse hearing thresholds related to the presence of tinnitus. CONCLUSION: The outcomes raise the question for clinicians and researchers whether addressing the mental and general health of individuals will influence the presence or burden of tinnitus.
Authors: Kelly K S Assouly; Adriana L Smit; Robert H Eikelboom; Cathy Sucher; Marcus Atlas; Robert J Stokroos; Inge Stegeman Journal: Trends Hear Date: 2022 Jan-Dec Impact factor: 3.496