Some conditions are related to bothersome tinnitus

Bothersome tinnitus is associated with higher age and a series of physical and mental conditions, a Swedish study finds.

The study found that for both men and women, bothersome tinnitus was associated with higher age, reduced hearing ability (hearing loss), hearing-related difficulties, cardiovascular disease, epilepsy and burnout when compared with non-bothersome tinnitus.

Women vs. men

Women with bothersome tinnitus specifically reported higher rates of cardiovascular disease, thyroid disease, epilepsy, fibromyalgia and burnout.

Men with bothersome tinnitus reported higher rates of alcohol consumption, Ménière’s disease, anxiety syndrome and panic.

About the study

The study conducted a cross-sectional study using survey data from the Swedish LifeGene cohort containing information on self-reported tinnitus. 7,615 persons participated in the study.

In the study, the participants’ self-reported their tinnitus as constant and bothersome or as intermittent and non-bothersome.

The study, “Gender-Specific Risk Factors and Comorbidities of Bothersome Tinnitus”, was published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience.

Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov and the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience