Increased Atherosclerosis Correlates with Subjective Tinnitus Severity

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether increased intima media thickness was associated with the severity of subjective non-pulsatile tinnitus and hearing loss. Data of the patients who came to Otorhinolaryngology Department of Isparta Government Hospital with subjective non-pulsatile tinnitus complaint, between January 2012 and June 2013, were evaluated retrospectively. A total of 215 patients were included in the present study. Hearing tests, biochemical analysis, tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), visual analogue scale (VAS) and doppler ultrasonography results of the patients were reviewed and recorded. The patients were classified into two groups as those having an increased intima media thickness and those having a normal intima media thickness. The said groups were compared with respect to age, gender, THI, VAS, hearing test findings and lipid values. Moreover, THI and VAS groups were compared with respect to intima-media thickness. In the group having increased intima-media thickness, THI and VAS average, frequency of hypertension, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and triglyceride averages and mean frequencies obtained by hearing test were significantly higher. Comparison of THI and VAS groups showed that intima-media thickness was significantly different between those having a mild tinnitus and those having a severe tinnitus. Increased intima-media thickness was associated with the severity of subjective non-pulsatile tinnitus and hearing loss. For this reason, the carotid system should be examined in subjective non-pulsatile tinnitus patients.

Objective and Measurable Biomarkers in Chronic Subjective Tinnitus

“…However, the relationship between tinnitus and hyperlipidemia seems to be strong, as shown in studies using objective biomarkers. In a study that evaluated blood tests, intima media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery, and the severity of tinnitus in patients with bilateral chronic subjective tinnitus with a prevalence of more than six months, Tinnitus handicapped index (THI) score, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and hearing threshold were high in patients with tinnitus with high IMT [ 27 ]. In another study, tinnitus patients with normal hearing had lower mean blood HDL levels and higher TG levels than those of the control group [ 28 ].…”

A teljes körű kivizsgálás eredményei fülzúgásban szenvedőkön

“…Az atherosclerosis tinnitusra kifejtett hatását korábban már igazolták, az eredmények alapján ugyanis szignifikánsan magasabb intima-media megvastagodás volt detektálható a súlyosabb tinnitusformák esetében (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory -Fülzúgásterheltségi skála és vizuális analóg skála eredményei alapján), mint az enyhébb formáknál. Az intima-media megvastagodás szignifikánsan kifejezettebb volt a nonpulzatilis tinnitusformák és halláscsökkenés esetén is [11]. Az intima-media megvastagodás az atherosclerosis korai radiológiai jeleként tartható számon [12], melynek azonosítása lényeges a kezelés megkezdése miatt.…”

The Association between Serum Lipid Levels and Tinnitus Prevalence and Severity in Korean Elderly: A Nationwide Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…However, few risk factors for tinnitus are known. 3 Studies have shown that the incidence of dyslipidemia 5 6 and serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the tinnitus group were higher than those in the control groups, implicating altered lipid metabolism in the etiology of tinnitus. 7 These studies have suggested that dyslipidemia is a risk factor for tinnitus; indeed, an association between dyslipidemia and insufficient microcirculation in the inner ear has been proposed as a candidate mechanism of tinnitus, 7 but the exact mechanism remains unclear.…”