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Jarach CM, Karydou K, Trochidis I, Bernal-Robledano A, van den Brandt PA, Cima R, Cederroth CR, Lopez-Escamez JA, Ghislandi S, Hall DA, Kikidis D, Langguth B, Lugo A, Mazurek B, Odone A, Schecklmann M, Schoisswohl S, Simoes J, Schlee W, Gallus S. The out-of-pocket expenses of people with tinnitus in Europe. J Epidemiol 2024:JE20230358. [PMID: 38797674 DOI: 10.2188/jea.je20230358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the high frequency of tinnitus and its impact on wellbeing, little is known about its economic burden and no data to our knowledge are available on out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses. METHODS In 2022 a survey was conducted on OOP costs of tinnitus. We enrolled 679 participants with slight, moderate and severe tinnitus in Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany and Spain. We estimated annual OOP expenses for tinnitus-related healthcare visits, treatments, medications and alternative medicine practices. Prevalence of tinnitus in the general population, obtained from a representative survey we conducted in Europe in 2017-2018, was used to generalise costs for people with any tinnitus at the national level. RESULTS OOP expenses were 368€ (95% confidence intervals (CI), 78€-690€), 728€ (95% CI, 316€-1,288€), and 1,492€ (95% CI, 760€-2,688€) for slight, moderate, and severe tinnitus, respectively, with annual expenditure of 565€ for people with any tinnitus: 209€ for healthcare visits, 93€ for treatments, 16€ for drugs, 64€ for hearing supporting systems and 183€ for acupuncture, homeopathy and osteopathy. Individuals with slight, moderate, and severe tinnitus expressed a willingness to invest 1.6, 4.3, and 7.0 times their monthly income, respectively, to achieve complete relief from tinnitus. CONCLUSIONS This study offers for the first time insights into the OOP expenses incurred by individuals with tinnitus. OOP expenses exhibited substantial variations based on severity status, accounting for more than 17 thousand million€ in the countries considered. In terms of financial burden, these findings align tinnitus to the recognised leading disabilities, including back pain and migraine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta M Jarach
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Department of Medical Epidemiology
| | | | | | | | - Piet A van den Brandt
- Maastricht University Medical Centre, CAPHRI- School for Public Health and Primary Care, Department of Epidemiology
- Maastricht University Medical Centre, GROW- School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Department of Epidemiology
| | - Rilana Cima
- Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven University
- Tinnitus Center of Expertise, Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Adelante
- Experimental Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Neurosciences, Maastricht University
| | - Christopher R Cederroth
- Laboratory of Experimental Audiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet
- Translational Hearing Research, Tübingen Hearing Research Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen
| | - Jose Antonio Lopez-Escamez
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA
- Sensorineural Pathology Programme, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Raras, CIBERER
- Meniere's Disease Neuroscience Research Program, Faculty of Medicine & Health, School of Medical Sciences, The Kolling Institute, University of Sydney
| | | | | | - Dimitris Kikidis
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School
| | - Berthold Langguth
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg
- Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Clinic, University of Regensburg
| | - Alessandra Lugo
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Department of Medical Epidemiology
| | | | - Anna Odone
- School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia
| | | | - Stefan Schoisswohl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg
- Department of Psychology, Universität der Bundeswehr München
| | - Jorge Simoes
- Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente
| | - Winfried Schlee
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg
- Institute for Information and Process Management, Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences
| | - Silvano Gallus
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Department of Medical Epidemiology
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Demoen S, Cardon E, Jacquemin L, Timmermans A, Van Rompaey V, Gilles A, Michiels S. Health-Related Quality of Life in Subjective, Chronic Tinnitus Patients: A Scoping Review. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2024; 25:103-129. [PMID: 38253898 PMCID: PMC11018725 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-024-00926-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This scoping review aims to assess whether the severity or distress of subjective tinnitus is negatively associated or correlated with the level of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A second objective is to examine whether tinnitus patients score differently on HRQoL questionnaires in comparison to subjects without tinnitus and whether HRQoL differs between specific subgroups of tinnitus. METHODS This scoping review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA guidelines): the statement and extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The following databases were consulted (on the 20th of October 2023): PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus. The search string was composed of the terms tinnitus, HRQoL, and synonyms. A double-blinded screening for eligibility was performed, first on the title and abstract and subsequently on the full-text articles. Studies were considered eligible if they looked at HRQoL questionnaire results for adult patients (> 18 years) reporting chronic (> 3 months), subjective tinnitus as a primary complaint. RESULTS In total, 37 studies with a total sample size of 33,900 participants were included in this scoping review, with some studies answering multiple study objectives. Seventeen studies demonstrated the presence of a significant negative correlation between tinnitus-related distress and HRQoL. Two studies indicated that HRQoL is mediated by tinnitus-related distress. Eighteen studies found that, in general, patients with tinnitus scored significantly lower on HRQoL questionnaires in comparison to subjects without tinnitus. Nineteen studies demonstrated that subgroups of patients with more severe tinnitus complaints or specific additional complaints scored worse on HRQoL questionnaires. CONCLUSION Based on the current literature, chronic subjective tinnitus-related distress has a significant impact on health-related quality of life. In addition, subjects without tinnitus generally score significantly higher on HRQoL questionnaires than patients with tinnitus. The heterogeneity in outcome measures between studies precludes meta-analysis. Increased homogeneity in the choice of HRQoL questionnaires would make a comparison between studies possible, which would give valuable information on both a clinical and an economic level, guiding future tinnitus treatment. REGISTRATION The protocol for the scoping review is registered at Open Science Framework: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/F5S9C .
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Demoen
- Rehabilitation Research Center, REVAL, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650, Edegem, Belgium.
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Emilie Cardon
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Laure Jacquemin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annick Timmermans
- Rehabilitation Research Center, REVAL, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Vincent Van Rompaey
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annick Gilles
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Education, Health and Social Work, University College Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Michiels
- Rehabilitation Research Center, REVAL, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
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Khan N, Lewis AT. Influence of Bone Conduction Hearing Device Implantation on Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with and without Tinnitus. Audiol Res 2023; 13:573-585. [PMID: 37622926 PMCID: PMC10451704 DOI: 10.3390/audiolres13040050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Tinnitus, often related to hearing loss, is an addressable public health concern affecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to explore the influence of bone conduction hearing aid (BCHA) implantation on HRQoL and hearing disability in patients with hearing loss suffering from tinnitus. (2) Methods: Data were collected from an international hearing implant registry. Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI-3), Spatial and Qualities of Hearing- 49 Questionnaire (SSQ) and self-reported tinnitus burden data for adult patients implanted with a BCHA (n = 42) who provided baseline as well as follow-up data 1-year post-implantation were extracted from the registry. Wilcoxon signed rank tests and paired samples t-tests were used to analyse outcomes data. (3) Results: Patients, with or without tinnitus, demonstrated clinically important mean improvements in HUI-3 multi-attribute utility scores, HUI-3 hearing attribute and SSQ scores. Hearing loss patients with tinnitus presented with a lower HRQoL than patients without tinnitus. (4) Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the importance of hearing rehabilitation in improving the quality of life and hearing disability of patients with or without tinnitus and in providing tinnitus relief in some patients with hearing loss and tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasrene Khan
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden;
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Manta O, Sarafidis M, Schlee W, Consoulas C, Kikidis D, Koutsouris D. Electrophysiological differences in distinct hearing threshold level individuals with and without tinnitus distress. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2022; 2022:1630-1633. [PMID: 36085827 DOI: 10.1109/embc48229.2022.9871392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no actual external noise is present. Tinnitus is highly prevalent, with more than 1 in 7 adults in the EU having tinnitus, and it causes negative effects on quality of life for many individuals. However, there is currently no cure for tinnitus and its pathophysiology and genesis are unknown. Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) provide a non-invasive means by which the electrical signals evoked by the brain can be recorded, and constitute a useful indicator for the evaluation of auditory disorders such as tinnitus and hearing loss. The present study analyzed a total of 98 auditory middle evoked potential (AMLR) waveforms, a subtype of AEPs, from 49 participants with subjective tinnitus, attempting to identify differences in AMLR parameters between sufferers with and without tinnitus distress. The waveforms were divided into three categories according to the ear's hearing level, and comparisons were made between sufferers in the same hearing level category. The results of the analysis indicated some statistically significant differences in AMLR latencies and amplitudes between the compared groups. Clinical Relevance- Identification of the electro-physiological profile of subjective tinnitus sufferers based on the distress manifested by tinnitus using AMLRs.
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