Tinnitus prevalence in Europe: a multi-country cross-sectional population study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Tinnitus prevalence studies show significant variability globally, potentially due to inconsistent methodologies.
• This study addresses the need for a standardized Pan-European estimate of tinnitus prevalence.
• Investigates individual and country-level factors influencing tinnitus prevalence and its relationship with healthcare resource use and hearing difficulty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a single, reliable Pan-European estimate for tinnitus prevalence.
• To identify individual and country-specific factors affecting tinnitus prevalence.
• To explore the correlation between tinnitus severity, hearing status, and healthcare utilization.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional European Tinnitus Survey (ETS) was conducted between 2017-2018.
• 11,427 adults aged 18+ across 12 European Union nations participated.
• Standardized questionnaires in local languages were used to ensure data consistency.

Main Results:

• Overall tinnitus prevalence was 14.7% (14.0% males, 15.2% females), with significant variation (8.7% in Ireland to 28.3% in Bulgaria).
• Severe tinnitus affected 1.2% of participants, ranging from 0.6% to 4.2% across countries.
• Tinnitus prevalence increased with age and hearing impairment; healthcare resource use correlated with symptom severity.

Conclusions:

• This is the first multinational study providing a standardized Pan-European tinnitus prevalence estimate.
• Over 1 in 7 adults in the EU have tinnitus, equating to approximately 65 million individuals.
• Significant inter-country heterogeneity exists, highlighting the need for further research into contributing factors.