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COVID-19 associated anxiety enhances tinnitus
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mianyang Central Hospital, Mianyang, Sichuan, China.
Plos One
|February 5, 2021
Summary
Anxiety associated with COVID-19 significantly worsened tinnitus severity and reduced treatment effectiveness. This study confirms anxiety acts as a promoting factor for tinnitus, especially during stressful global events.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented psychological stress.
- Tinnitus, a condition characterized by auditory perception without external stimuli, can be exacerbated by stress and anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of anxiety, heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, as a promoting factor in tinnitus.
- To compare tinnitus characteristics and treatment outcomes before and during the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study of 188 tinnitus patients comparing 2020 (pandemic) with 2019 data.
- Anxiety assessed using Zung's Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS); tinnitus severity measured by Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and tinnitus loudness (TL).
- Comparison of treatments: sound therapy plus educational counselling (STEC) and educational counselling (EC) alone, before and during the pandemic.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in anxiety (case rate and SAS scores) was observed in 2020.
- Both STEC and EC treatments were less effective in 2020 compared to 2019.
- EC alone treatment led to deterioration of SAS, THI, and TL scores in 2020, contrasting with improvement in 2019.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19-related stress significantly increased tinnitus severity and anxiety.
- Educational counselling alone was insufficient to manage pandemic-related stress and its impact on tinnitus.
- Anxiety is confirmed as a causative/promotive factor for tinnitus, particularly during public health crises.
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