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%; ∼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.

Funding: Rich Robbins, Bertarelli Foundation Endowed Professorship.