Background: Subjective tinnitus is a common symptom, and there is often an underlying otological cause. This study investigated the degree of tinnitus-related annoyance in patients with chronic otitis media (COM) and analysed whether associations with tinnitus severity exist. Methods: The multinational collaborative Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire-12 (COMQ-12) study collected prospective data on 478 adult patients suffering from COM across nine otology referral centres in eight countries. Based on this dataset, we investigated tinnitus severity using participant responses to item 7 of a native version of the COMQ-12. Results: With respect to tinnitus severity, 23.8%, 17.4%, 15.5%, and 43.4% of participants reported no, minor, moderate, and major inconvenience or greater, respectively. The absence of ear discharge, absence of cholesteatoma, and poorer disease-specific health-related quality-of-life were associated with increased tinnitus severity in patients with COM, whereas age, hearing disability and geographical region showed no association. Conclusions: This analysis provides novel insight into potential risk factors for tinnitus in patients with COM.
Analysis of tinnitus severity and associated risk factors in patients with chronic otitis media: Data from the multinational collaborative COMQ-12 study
Quaranta N.;
2022-01-01
Abstract
Background: Subjective tinnitus is a common symptom, and there is often an underlying otological cause. This study investigated the degree of tinnitus-related annoyance in patients with chronic otitis media (COM) and analysed whether associations with tinnitus severity exist. Methods: The multinational collaborative Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire-12 (COMQ-12) study collected prospective data on 478 adult patients suffering from COM across nine otology referral centres in eight countries. Based on this dataset, we investigated tinnitus severity using participant responses to item 7 of a native version of the COMQ-12. Results: With respect to tinnitus severity, 23.8%, 17.4%, 15.5%, and 43.4% of participants reported no, minor, moderate, and major inconvenience or greater, respectively. The absence of ear discharge, absence of cholesteatoma, and poorer disease-specific health-related quality-of-life were associated with increased tinnitus severity in patients with COM, whereas age, hearing disability and geographical region showed no association. Conclusions: This analysis provides novel insight into potential risk factors for tinnitus in patients with COM.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.