Prevalence of Tinnitus and Dizziness and Their Association With Recurrent and Chronic Headache in Adults

Tinnitus is the most common auditory disorder and can profoundly affect quality of life. It can contribute to various types of headaches, including chronic and recurrent forms. Dizziness is also among the most common complaints in medicine, affecting 15% to 35% of the general population at some point in their lives. Experiencing headache and dizziness simultaneously is often alarming, yet this combination can result from multiple causes ranging from dehydration to anxiety. This study aimed to examine the impact of tinnitus and dizziness on chronic and recurrent headaches among adults residing in Zahedan, southeastern Iran.

This study utilized baseline data from the Zahedan Adult Cohort Study. Participants were enrolled according to the cohort's inclusion criteria, while individuals with severe physical or mental disabilities or those unable to complete the questionnaire were excluded. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, standard deviation, percentage) and logistic regression in SPSS 22. A significance level of P < .05 was applied. Logistic regression models were applied to assess associations between tinnitus, dizziness, and headache types, adjusting for potential confounders.

The participants had a mean age of 50.44 ± 9.18 years. The mean age at onset of chronic headache was 37.43 ± 11.90 years. The prevalence of chronic and recurrent headaches was 5.2% and 36.2%, respectively. Women had a significantly higher likelihood of developing chronic headaches compared with men (odds ratio [OR] = 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.5-4.0). Recurrent headaches were more prevalent in women (OR = 2.5, 95% CI: 2.3-2.7). Additionally, hypertension, head trauma, and epilepsy were associated with increased risks of both chronic and recurrent headaches.

Chronic and recurrent headaches were influenced by demographic factors, socio-economic status, and medical conditions such as hypertension, and head trauma. Importantly, both tinnitus and dizziness significantly increased the odds of these headaches. Social determinants, neurological comorbidities, and vestibular dysfunction appear to play key roles. These findings underscore the need for integrated otolaryngological and neurological care.