Tinnitus and anxiety disorder are common clinical symptoms. Comorbidity between tinnitus and anxiety state is increasing year by year. The relationship between tinnitus and anxiety state has always been a hot topic, and this paper reviews the literature on the relationship between chronic subjective tinnitus and anxiety state in recent years.
Humans ; Tinnitus/diagnosis* ; Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the basic incidence of subjective tinnitus in Xingui Community, Daliang, Shunde District, Guangdong Province, conduct preliminary analysis on its clinical feature, provide scientific evidence for subjective tinnitus prevention and cure in community.

METHODSPerformed census in the entire population, totally 17253 people in Xingui Community, then gave tinnitus surveys for the people who have subjective tinnitus, and finally conducted analysis and evaluation.

RESULTSthe morbidity of tinnitus in the investigated people is 28.7%. With the increases of age, the morbidity goes up gradually, but it is not statistically significant(P>0.05) among different age group, and between different sex. There is an obvious correlation between tinnitus and hearing loss; Matching tone of tinnitus is related to the nature of hearing loss. The morbidity of decompensation tinnitus is 3.2%, it is not statistically significant among different age group(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONsubjective tinnitus is common in aged people, so it is very important to strengthen the work of subjective tinnitus prevention and cure in Community.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Tinnitus ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of tinnitus in Sichuan and Chongqing. Methods: We designed a tinnitus epidemiological questionnaire. The multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling methods was applied to obtain study subjects in six areas (Nanchong, Jiangjin, Fengdu, Yunyang, Suining and Ya'an), which were selected for epidemiological investigation. Home visit completion of epidemiological questionnaires was conducted. The trained investigators guided the respondents to fill in the tinnitus epidemiological questionnaires, and the epidemiological status of six areas on prevalence and risk factor was investigated. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Sampling population were 10 289, in which 9 273 were valid questionnaires. There were 4 281 males and 4 992 females, with an average age of 47.3 years, among which 34.83% (3 230/9 273) had tinnitus. 3.99% (370/9 273) were diagnosed with bothersome tinnitus. In a multivariable logistic regression mod, the following factors were associated with onsetting of tinnitus: sleep disorder [Odds Ratio(OR)=3.74] and noise exposure(OR=1.99). The risk of disease was lowest in the age of 30-40 years old, while the risk of disease was higher for people under 30 and over 40. In another multivariable logistic regression mode, the following factors were associated with having bothersome tinnitus: older people were more likely to suffer from tinnitus, sleep disorders (OR=4.68) and noise exposure (OR=1.56). Conclusions: The prevalence of tinnitus in Sichuan and Chongqing is about 34.83%, but most of the tinnitus is short-lived and has low loudness, which will not affect the patients. Only a small number of patients with tinnitus (3.99%) persist and affect their health and need treatment. The occurrence and exacerbation of tinnitus may be related to sleep, age, and noise exposure.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tinnitus/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the abnormal conditions of the affected ear and the contralateral ear of patients with unilateral Meniere's disease and the prevalence of bilateral abnormalities among these unilateral Meniere disease population, providing reference for the clinical treatment strategies for Meniére disease. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of 106 Meni6re disease cases was performed, the abnormal incidence of the affected ears, the contralateral ears and the bilateral abnormalities were calculated, and the disease characteristics were analyzed. RESULT: The bilateral ears abnormal incidence of unilateral Meniére disease was 35. 85% (38/106); the cochlear symptoms of the contralateral ears often occurred 2. 25 years later of the symptoms of Meni6re disease; contralateral cochlear symptoms included at least two symptoms of tinnitus, deafness and ear fullness; 39. 47%(15/38) patients with bilateral abnormalities would appear binaural hearing impairment. CONCLUSION This study showed that about one-third of unilateral Meniére diseases have binaural symptoms, among which about one-third would occur bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the course of disease and the symptoms of the contralateral ear before taking damage or destructive method for treating Meniére's disease clinically.
Cochlea ; physiopathology ; Deafness ; Ear ; abnormalities ; Hearing Loss, Bilateral ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Meniere Disease ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tinnitus

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there is gender difference in the incidence and severity of tinnitus in medical staff (including doctors, nurses, and technicians). METHOD: A total of 354 people (all are medial stuff from hospitals in Guangzhou) were invited to be involved in the investigation and granted a self-reported questionnaire of tinnitus (designed by the authors; based on the scoring method of severity of tinnitus (Liu et al.). Statistical analysis on the data was performed using SPSS Statistics 17.0. RESULT: (1) The incidence of tinnitus of the sample was 43.22%, with that in female higher than in male (P < 0.05), and that in nurses higher than in doctors or technicians (P < 0.01). (2) The effect of working position factor on the incidence of prolonged tinnitus was significant (P < 0.01). However, no statistically significant gender difference was detected in the incidence of prolonged tinnitus. (3) There was no statistically significant difference of tinnitus severity scores between different genders or among different positions (P > 0.05). (4) There was statistically significant difference among the four sub-items of the questionnaire (P < 0.01), with the mean score of "occurred environment" higher than "the impact on sleeping", "the impact on everyday life", and "the impact on emotion". CONCLUSION (1) The effort-reward imbalance might be the key factor of the gender difference in the incidence of tinnitus. (2) For patients of tinnitus, improving the knowledge about their symptoms as well as levels of psychological resilience would be helpful to relieve the mental impairment of tinnitus.
Adult ; Emotions ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Medical Staff ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tinnitus ; epidemiology ; psychology

To investigate the cognitive characteristics that affect the emotional and functional distress caused by tinnitus and to decide and test the model to explain their relations, 167 patients with tinnitus, who visited Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea between March 2001 and May 2002 were recruited. To examine their features related to tinnitus, the following scales were administered; Tinnitus-related basic questionnaire including dysfunctional beliefs, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Anxious Thought and Tendencies, Self-Consciousness Scale, and modified 'catastrophic thought' from Coping Strategies Questionnaire. The results showed that the duration of experiencing tinnitus was 4.7 +/-7.1 yr, those who com-plained of hearing one sound were the most common (45.5%), and hearing sounds similarly described to whistling were the most common (22.5%). Also, there were significant correlations among tinnitus features, cognitive characteristics, and distresses from tinnitus. As a result of testing the model, Normed fit index, Incremental fit index, Tucker-Lewis index, and Comparative fit index were over .90, indicating that it is a good model, and Root mean square error of approximation showed a reasonable fit. Also, the direct effects of the trait or severity of tinnitus on distress did not appear to be significant, thus it appeared to be affecting indirectly through the cognitive characteristics. This result shows that cognitive interventions can be important for the psychological adaptations of tinnitus patients.
Anxiety Disorders/*diagnosis/*epidemiology/psychology ; Cognition Disorders/*diagnosis/*epidemiology/psychology ; Comorbidity ; Depression/diagnosis/epidemiology/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Risk Assessment/*methods ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tinnitus/*diagnosis/*epidemiology/psychology

In this article, current status of noise exposure in workplaces, trend of workers with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and prevalence of NIHL in workers by industry and job category in Korea were reviewed. In addition, trends of research on the audiological effects such as hearing loss from noise and occupational hearing loss from non-noise in Korea were addressed through reports in industrial audiology. Though noise exposure level has improved, noise still shows the highest rate of cases exceeding exposure limit among workplace hazards. NIHL is the most common occupational disease except work-related disease such as musculoskeletal disorders and cerebrovascular diseases, and NIHL prevalence is thought to be much higher than reported in official publications. Noise affecting hearing comes from various sources such as workplaces, military settings, areas with exposure to high noise, and specific noise sources. There is also occupational hearing loss by non-noise including chemicals such as organic solvents and heavy metals, barotrauma, and trauma due to welding spark. Noise affects daily life through audiological effects such as hearing loss and tinnitus, non-audiological physical effects (e.g., cardiovascular), and psychosocial and behavioral effects. Development of systematic and comprehensive hearing conservation programs for lowering the noise level in workplaces and preventing the NIHL, and preparation of technological, administrative system for its settlement at workplace are urgently needed.
Hearing Loss/*chemically induced ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced/*epidemiology ; Humans ; Noise, Occupational/*adverse effects ; Occupational Diseases/chemically induced/*epidemiology/*etiology ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Tinnitus/epidemiology

BACKGROUNDA comprehensive assessment of various vascular anomalies and variants associated with venous pulsatile tinnitus (PT) by radiography is essential for therapeutic planning and improving the clinical outcome. This study evaluated the incidence of various vascular anomalies and variants on the PT side and determined whether these lesions occurred as multiple or single entities.

METHODSThe dual-phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography images of 242 patients with unilateral venous PT were retrospectively reviewed. The vascular anomalies and variants on the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides were analyzed, and the incidences of anomalies or variants on each side were compared. The number of anomalies and variants on the symptomatic side in each patient was calculated.

RESULTS(1) A total 170 patients (170/242) had more than one anomaly or variant on the symptomatic side, and 58 patients (58/242) had a single lesion on tomography. (2) There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of dehiscent sigmoid plate (P = 0.000), lateral sinus stenosis (P = 0.014), high jugular bulb (P = 0.000), sigmoid sinus diverticulum (P = 0.000), jugular bulb diverticulum (P = 0.000), dehiscent jugular bulb (P = 0.000), and a large emissary vein (P = 0.006) between the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides. (3) Dehiscent sigmoid plate (86.4%) was the most frequent lesion on the symptomatic side, followed by lateral sinus stenosis (55.8%), high jugular bulb (47.1%), sigmoid sinus diverticulum (34.3%), jugular bulb diverticulum (13.6%), dehiscent jugular bulb (13.6%), large emissary vein (4.1%), sinus thrombosis (1.2%), and petrosquamosal sinus (0.8%).

CONCLUSIONSVarious vascular anomalies and variants occur more frequently on the venous PT side. Preliminary findings suggest that venous PT patients may have multiple vascular anomalies or variants on the symptomatic side.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tinnitus ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Ramsay Hunt syndrome (herpes zoster oticus) is characterized by vesicles on the pinna, otalgia, facial nerve palsy and sensorineural hearing loss. It is not such a common dermatological disease like herpes zoster. However, reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus causes facial palsy and therapeutic onset is one of the prognostic factors in Ramsay Hunt syndrome. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to elucidate the epidemiology, the clinical characteristics of Ramsay Hunt syndrome and prognosis according to therapeutic ways. METHODS: The 84 cases diagnosed as Ramsay Hunt syndrome from January 2000 to July 2007 were assessed in regard to age, sex, clinical characteristics, electromyography (EMG) results, onset of neurological recovery according to medication and onset of rehabilitation therapy by review of medical records. RESULTS: Ramsay Hunt syndrome consisted 4.7% (84 cases of 1787) of total herpes zoster patients. The ratio of male to female patients was 37:47. Frequency was slightly higher in female patients. The mean age was 62+/-14.7 and the age distribution was in the range of 26~87 years. The most common clinical appearance was vesicular eruptions and facical nerve palsy including change in nasolabial fold and location of the lip (73.8%), followed by vesicular eruptions and vestibulocochlear symptoms like tinnitus and vertigo (16.7%), facial nerve palsy and vestibulocochlear symptoms appearing together (9.5%). EMG showed abnormal results in 67.9%. More than one kind of abnormality was commonly observed. The most common abnormal EMG result was fibrillation potential (42.2%), followed by positive sharp wave (31.3%), polyphasia (10.8%), high frequency discharge (8.4%), increased insertional activity (4.8%) and fasciculation (2.5%). There was no significant difference in onset of neurological recovery between acyclovir injections and oral famciclovir or valaciclovir treatment. The patients who had received physical therapy a week after the symptoms had developed, had a faster onset of recovery (2.8 week Vs 4.1 week, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that antiviral agents of a different kind may not affect recovery onset and earlier rehabilitation therapy seems to be effective in neurological recovery in Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
Acyclovir ; Age Distribution ; Antiviral Agents ; Earache ; Electromyography ; Epidemiology ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis ; Fasciculation ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Herpes Zoster ; Herpes Zoster Oticus* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Lip ; Male ; Medical Records ; Nasolabial Fold ; Paralysis ; Prognosis ; Rehabilitation ; Tinnitus ; Vertigo