OTO Open (Jan 2024)

Association of Sleep Characteristics with Tinnitus and Hearing Loss

  • Matthew Awad,
  • Ibrahim Abdalla,
  • Sebastian M. Jara,
  • Tina C. Huang,
  • Meredith E. Adams,
  • Janet S. Choi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/oto2.117
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract Objective The impact of poor sleep on tinnitus has been mainly attributed to central processes. There is an association between sleep disorders and hearing loss, but whether hearing levels mediate the association between sleep disorders and tinnitus is unknown. This study investigates the association between sleep characteristics, tinnitus, and hearing loss. Study Design Cross‐sectional. Setting National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods Study cohort includes 9693 adults (≥20 years) from the NHANES 2005 to 2018 who completed audiometric testing and questionnaires on tinnitus and sleep characteristics. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to quantify associations between sleep characteristics, tinnitus, and hearing loss. Results In this cohort, 29% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 28%‐31%) reported trouble sleeping and 9% (95% CI: 8%‐10%) reported being diagnosed with sleep disorders. Negative sleep characteristics (less hours of sleep, diagnosis of a sleep disorder, trouble sleeping, or OSA symptoms) were not associated with audiometry‐measured hearing loss in multivariable models adjusted for demographics and comorbidities but were significantly associated with bothersome tinnitus. This association remained significant without substantial attenuation in multivariable models additionally adjusting for hearing levels: sleeping <8 h/day (vs ≥8) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.28 [95% CI: 1.08‐1.52]), trouble sleeping (OR: 1.78 [95% CI: 1.45‐2.19]), diagnosis of sleep disorders (OR: 1.57 [95% CI: 1.14‐2.15]), and report of OSA symptoms (OR: 1.42 [95% CI: 1.08‐1.88]). Conclusion Negative sleep characteristics were associated with tinnitus while there was no clinically meaningful association between sleep and hearing loss. Our findings suggest that the relationship between poor sleep and tinnitus is likely contributed by central processes without a major role of mediation via the peripheral auditory system.

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