Multivariate Analysis of the Factors Affecting Tinnitus Severity in Old Age: A Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting tinnitus severity in the population aged 60 and over with a multi-central data and with multivariate analysis. Materials: This prospective study was composed of 130 subjects aged 60 years or older with clinical complaint of tinnitus and administered to five different otorhinolaryngology clinics in four different cities in our country. All participants have been tested with pure tone audiometry. Tinnitus loudness and pitch mapping were determined for all participants. All participants also interviewed individually to complete Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and asked to characterize their tinnitus symptoms using a visual analog scale (VAS) measuring severity, annoyance of tinnitus. Results: Tinnitus loudness increases significantly in the group over the age of 79, but there is no significant difference between the groups formed according to age in terms of VAS or THI values. Systemic disease does not make a significant difference that increases the severity of tinnitus. risk factors that increase tinnitus severity are included in the logistic regression analysis;High level of education and advanced age over 79 years were determined as independent risk factors. Increasing education level is an independent risk factor for increasing tinnitus severity with an odds ratio of 2.46 (95% CI, 1.080-5.624). At the same time, advanced age over 79 years is an independent risk factor with an odds ratio of 5.4 (95% CI, 1,385-21.197), which causes tinnitus severity to be felt more. Conclusion: In old age population, the incidence of tinnitus does not increase with increasing age, but tinnitus severity increases. As hearing loss increases, tinnitus severity and VAS score increase. According to the results of this study, the most important risk factors that increase the perception of tinnitus in the elderly population were determined as very advanced age and high education level. It is reasonable to think that one of the reasons for this is that the elderly in the vulnerable group for the Covid 19 pandemic should stay away from hospitals unless their tinnitus complaints are very serious. Re-performing our study in elderly individuals after the pandemic is important to see the effect of the pandemic period more clearly in these individuals.