Tinnitus prevalence, associated characteristics, and related healthcare use in the United States: a population-level analysis

Background Tinnitus is a potentially disabling condition with few treatments. We examined the prevalence and characteristics of tinnitus among demographic groups in the United States (US) and assessed associated factors and tinnitus-related healthcare. Methods We included adults with and without bothersome tinnitus from the nationally representative 2014 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS; raw n = 36,697), the latest year with tinnitus data. We evaluated tinnitus prevalence and characteristics (frequency, severity, duration) overall and among groups defined by sex and race/ethnicity. Logistic regression with adjusted Wald tests were used for comparisons in NHIS-weighted populations by sex and race/ ethnicity, and to evaluate associations between demographic/medical characteristics and noise exposure on tinnitus risk. Findings The US prevalence of tinnitus was 11.2% (95% CI: 10.8%, 11.7%; similar to 27 million people) in 2014. Of those with tinnitus, 41.2% always had symptoms and 28.3% had >= 15 years symptom duration; the rates were significantly higher among men vs. women and non-Hispanic (nHW) vs. Hispanic Whites (HW), Blacks, or other ethnicity. Significantly more women vs. men and HW vs. nHW reported severe tinnitus. Sex and race/ethnicity, except Asian, were not significantly associated with tinnitus when age, otologic/medical disorders, and noise exposure were included in the model. Significantly lower rates of all minority groups discussed tinnitus with a doctor compared to nHW, and among those who did, Blacks were significantly less likely to receive tinnitus evaluation than nHWs. Interpretation Tinnitus prevalence varies across US demographic groups and racial differences were identified in the delivery of tinnitus-related healthcare.