The SF-36 Health Survey in tinnitus patients with a high jugular bulb.

OBJECTIVES

This prospective study investigated the multi-item patient functions of health concepts using the SF-36 Health Survey in tinnitus patients with a high jugular bulb (HJB).

METHODS

The study group consisted of 10 adult tinnitus patients (7 males, 3 females) with an HJB on temporal bone high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The control group consisted of 10 healthy patients with normal hearing levels (7 males and 3 females) without tinnitus. Using a questionnaire, a tinnitus loudness level score (TLL-Sc) was found. Using the SF-36 questionnaire, eight health concepts were evaluated: physical functioning (PF), role limitations due to physical problems (RP), social functioning (SF), bodily pain (BP), general mental health (MH), role limitations due to emotional problems (RE), vitality (VT), and general health perceptions (GH).

RESULTS

SF and VT scores were significantly lower in the study group (p < .05). As the duration of the tinnitus increased, sleep problems and impaired SF-36 scores were seen. Higher TLL-Scs did not cause lower quality of life (QOL) scores, even though they are associated with significantly higher sleep disturbance. In males, TLL-Scs seem to be higher and SF-36 domains lower than in females. Older patients have lower TLL-Scs and do not have impaired HJB-related QOL results, although they do have sleep problems.

CONCLUSION

Longer tinnitus duration, male gender, and sleeping problems may impair QOL. With higher TLL-Scs, QOL results are not lower owing to patients' getting used to living with their tinnitus. According to the SF-36 Health Survey, tinnitus patients appear to have a higher level of emotional disability than physical disability.