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. 2025 Jan 22;29(1):86.
doi: 10.1007/s11325-025-03243-0.

Association between obstructive sleep apnea and Tinnitus in the United States: NHANES 2005-2020

Chao Wang  1 , Mengdi Shi  1 , Liangzhen Xie  2 , Zhu Qin  1 , Wentao Li  2 , Dianyi Wang  2 , Wanying Peng  1 , Jianli Wu  3   4 , Yan Li  5
Affiliations

Association between obstructive sleep apnea and Tinnitus in the United States: NHANES 2005-2020

Chao Wang et al. Sleep Breath. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Tinnitus using NHANES data from 2005 to 2020.

Methods: This study analyzed data from NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys) conducted between 2005 and 2020, and included 4871 participants aged 16 or older. OSA was assessed using the Multivariate Apnea Prediction Index and the variables from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Tinnitus was defined as participants who reported being bothered by a ringing, roaring, or buzzing sound in the ears or head lasting 5 min or more during the past 12 months. Logistic regression models were employed to examine the association between OSA and Tinnitus.

Results: The study cohort had an overall prevalence of Tinnitus of 16.5%, with 53.51% for males and 46.49% for females. After controlling for potential confounders, there was a significant association between Tinnitus and OSA (odds ratio = 1.43, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.94, P = 0.03).

Conclusion: These findings indicate that OSA is a risk factor for the development of Tinnitus.

Keywords: NHANES; National health and nutrition examination survey; OSA; Obstructive sleep apnea; Tinnitus.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical approval: All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the (place name of institution and/or national research committee) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This study was approved by the NCHS Research Ethics Review Board (ERB) (Protocol #2011?17). Consent to participate All participants consented to participate. Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Conflict of interest: All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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