Tinnitus and its risk factors in the Beaver Dam offspring study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of tinnitus along with factors potentially associated with having tinnitus.

DESIGN

Data were from the Beaver Dam Offspring Study, an epidemiological cohort study of aging.

STUDY SAMPLE

After a personal interview and audiometric examination, participants (n = 3267, ages 21-84 years) were classified as having tinnitus if in the past year they reported having tinnitus of at least moderate severity or that caused difficulty in falling asleep.

RESULTS

The prevalence of tinnitus was 10.6%. In a multivariable logistic regression model adjusting for age and sex, the following factors were associated with having tinnitus: hearing impairment (Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.20), currently having a loud job (OR = 1.90), history of head injury (OR = 1.84), depressive symptoms (OR = 1.82), history of ear infection (men, OR = 1.75), history of target shooting (OR = 1.56), arthritis (OR = 1.46), and use of NSAID medications (OR = 1.33). For women, ever drinking alcohol in the past year was associated with a decreased risk of having tinnitus (OR = 0.56).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that tinnitus is a common symptom in this cohort and may be associated with some modifiable risk factors.