Analysis of tinnitus severity and associated factors in patients with chronic otitis media in a low- to middle-income country

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to describe the tinnitus severity in patients with chronic otitis media (COM) and describe the sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with tinnitus severity.

Design

Cross-sectional study. Two otology-referral centers in Bogotá (Colombia) were included. Sociodemographic, clinical associated factors and quality of life questionnaires were applied. Otoscopic evaluation and audiometric data were collected.

Study sample

About 231 adults with COM.

Results

Up to 51.5% of the patients reported severe tinnitus discomfort, 21.7% moderate discomfort, and 26.8% minor discomfort. Factor associated with increased tinnitus severity in patients with COM were older age (aOR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01–1.05), higher education (aOR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.03–4.87), ear discharge during childhood (aOR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.02–3.45), cholesteatoma in one ear (aOR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.05–4.88), and pure-tone air average over 15 dB (aOR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.28–3.36). Differences of 10-points in symptoms severity and 15-points in the total score of the “Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media Questionnaire-12” were found between the tinnitus severity groups.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the need for further research on the associated factors of tinnitus severity on COM patients. COM patients with higher tinnitus severity presented worse audiometric results and worse quality of life outcomes.

Keywords:

• Tinnitus
• otitis media
• quality of life
• associated factors
• outcome measures

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to the Otolaryngology residents of the Hospital San José de Bogotá who supported the fieldwork of this study. The authors thank the reviewers of this manuscript; your comments and thoughtful feedback significantly improved the quality of our work.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The Ethical Committee of the Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá (Protocol Number: CCEI-9549-2018) and the Hospital de San José (Act number: 500, DI-I-0632-18) approved this study. All patients provided written informed consent.

Author contributions

Conceptualisation: AP, DP, MAG. Data evidence collection: AP, AMOT, LCPH, JMG. Supervision: AP. Statistical analysis and methodology: SML. Data analysis: DP, MAG, SML, LCPH. Funding acquisition and resource provision: AP. Writing – Original Draft Preparation: DP, MAG, SML, LCPH, AP. Writing – Review & Editing: DP, MAG, SML, LCPH, AP, AMOT, JMG.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Data availability statement

Part of the data generated or analysed during this study is included in this published article. Full datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Unidad Medico Quirúrgica de Otorrinolaringología UNIMEQ-ORL from Bogotá, Colombia.