Tinnitus in patients recovering after COVID-19: observational and cross-sectional study


Kartal A., KILIÇ M.

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, cilt.280, sa.2, ss.573-580, 2023 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 280 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2023
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s00405-022-07501-9
  • Dergi Adı: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.573-580
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pandemic, Tinnitus
  • Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Purpose: In our study, it was aimed to determine the tinnitus rate in patients who recovered from COVID-19. Methods: The study included 279 individuals aged 18–60 years, who recovered from COVID-19 within the last month and did not have a chronic disease. Visual Analogue Scale and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory were used for assessment in participants with tinnitus. Results: While 201 participants (72.00%) included in the study stated that they did not have tinnitus, 78 participants (28.00%) reported that they had tinnitus. Twenty-eight (10%) of the participants stated that they had no tinnitus before COVID-19 and that tinnitus started with COVID treatment; 16 (5.70%) of the participants stated that tinnitus was not present before COVID-19 and started after recovery. The mean tinnitus severity was 4.50 ± 2.16; tinnitus frequency/duration was 4.19 ± 2.45; tinnitus discomfort was 4.41 ± 2.50, and the total scores of the tinnitus handicap inventory were 49.56 ± 9.81. There was statistically borderline significance between tinnitus frequency/duration scores according to age groups (p = 0.052). Statistically significant differences were found for tinnitus severity (p = 0.033) and discomfort scores (p = 0.014) according to age groups. In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed between the tinnitus severity scores of the participants with and without a history of hospitalization (p = 0.035). Conclusion: Clinicians should keep in mind that tinnitus can be caused by COVID-19 as well as pre-existing tinnitus can be exacerbated by it but most participants in our study did not have post-COVID-19 tinnitus.