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. 2022 Jul;17(3):136-139.
doi: 10.1016/j.joto.2022.04.003. Epub 2022 Apr 25.

Tinnitus characteristics and associated variables on Tinnitus Handicap Inventory among a Hungarian population

Panayiota Mavrogeni  1 , Stefani Maihoub  2 , László Tamás  2 , András Molnár  2
Affiliations

Tinnitus characteristics and associated variables on Tinnitus Handicap Inventory among a Hungarian population

Panayiota Mavrogeni et al. J Otol. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Tinnitus is a sound precepted without an external sound stimulus. Its background can be categorised into primary and secondary cases. The secondary cases include pathologies of the external, middle and inner ear. Tinnitus can be objective or subjective; the latter can only identified by the sufferer. Previous research results have shown that tinnitus significantly affects the quality of life and daily functioning.

Objectives: To analyse the impact of tinnitus on the daily functioning and the possible influence of demographical data and tinnitus duration on it.

Methods: 630 patients (265 males and 365 females, 25-85 years of age) suffering from primary tinnitus were enrolled. In the Hungarian language, these patients completed the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire and underwent a complete otorhinolaryngological examination. IBM SPSS V24 software was used for data processing; correlation tests, the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric tests were used.

Results: According to the THI questionnaires outcomes, most patients (62.5%) were presented with a mild handicap. Based on statistical analysis, no significant correlation was observed between the total THI points and the age of the patients, along with the duration and localisation of the symptoms. However, the total THI scores of male and female patients significantly differed, indicating higher THI values in the female group (p = 0.00052∗).

Conclusions: The tinnitus severity was not affected by the duration, localisation of the symptoms and age but by gender, indicating higher values in the case of females.

Keywords: Daily functioning; Hungarian population; Tinnitus; Tinnitus characteristics; Tinnitus handicap inventory.

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Conflict of interest statement

All of the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
The analysis of the correlation between total THI scores and participants' age.
Fig 2
Fig 2
The analysis of the correspondence between total THI values and duration of tinnitus complaints.
Fig 3
Fig 3
Comparison between total THI scores in the answers of different genders. Black line: median, box: the middle 50% of the data, whiskers: upper and lower 25%. P values were calculated using the Mann-Whitney U test. The ∗ shows a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05).
Fig 4
Fig 4
Comparison between total THI scores in affected sides.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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