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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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