Tinnitus and its risk factors in african americans: The Jackson Heart Study

Objectives/Hypothesis

To describe the prevalence of reported tinnitus and tinnitus handicap in the all–African American Jackson Heart Study (JHS) cohort, with assessment of the relationship to cardiometabolic risk and depression.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Methods

Audiologic data were obtained from a sample of 1,314 participants of the JHS. Reported tinnitus was assessed dichotomously (yes/no) by interview and with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). The statistical relationship of reported tinnitus and tinnitus handicap to various cardiometabolic risks (i.e., hypertension and waist circumference) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) was assessed with logistic and gamma regression procedures.

Results

Tinnitus was found to be a highly prevalent condition (29.5%), with an additionally high rate of individuals who report at least slight tinnitus handicap (35%). Hypertension (β = 1.344, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.015-1.780, P = .039) and waist circumference (β = 1.009, 95% CI: 1.001-1.018, P = .021) were found to have a statistically significant relationship with THI score, depending on the level of covariate adjustment. Depression, as measured by the CES-D, was found to have a statistically significant relationship with both reported tinnitus (odds ratio [OR]: 1.051, 95% CI: 1.030-1.072, P < .001) and THI score (β = 1.029, 95% CI: 1.013-1.047, P = .001), which persisted for all levels of covariate adjustment in statistical models.

Conclusions

Tinnitus was found to be highly prevalent in the JHS, and certain measures of cardiometabolic risk are weakly related to both reported tinnitus and level of tinnitus handicap. A consistent relationship between depression and tinnitus/level of tinnitus handicap was observed.

Level of Evidence

2b Laryngoscope, 2017

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