Abstract
Tinnitus and pain have many similarities. Both are subjective sensations that may turn chronic, they are often accompanied by hypersensitivity in their respective sensory system, and overlapping brain changes have been observed. Since no population study has examined the empirical association between chronic pain and tinnitus, the present study aimed to explore the relationship in a general adult population. We used data from the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study (2015–2016). Participants (aged ≥40) responded to questions about pain and tinnitus. Using multiple logistic regression, we analysed the adjusted relationship between chronic pain and tinnitus in the full sample (n = 19,039), using several tinnitus definitions ranging from tinnitus >5 minutes within the past 12 months (broadest definition) to at least weekly and highly bothersome tinnitus (strictest definition). We also analysed relationships between number of body regions with pain, pain intensity and bothering, and tinnitus >5 minutes, among participants with chronic pain (n = 11,589). We found an association between chronic pain and tinnitus that was present irrespective of tinnitus definition, but was stronger with more bothersome tinnitus. With chronic pain, the odds of tinnitus >5 minutes was 64% higher, while odds of at least weekly, highly bothersome tinnitus was 144% higher than without chronic pain. Among participants with chronic pain, the number of pain regions was the pain variable most strongly associated with tinnitus >5 minutes (OR = 1.17 (95% CI: 1.14–1.20) for an increase of one region), whereas the other pain variables (intensity and bothering) showed weaker associations. All chronic pain variables had significant interactions with age, with the strongest associations for the youngest individuals (40–54 years). Our findings support the existence of an association between chronic pain and tinnitus and emphasises the importance of examining for comorbid pain in tinnitus patients to provide a more comprehensive treatment of tinnitus.
Highlights
Tinnitus is a common condition that can be severely debilitating
Tinnitus prevalence was lowest in the youngest age group (40–54 years), and prevalence increased with level of noise sensitivity, for all tinnitus definitions
Participants who reported chronic pain had a higher prevalence of tinnitus than those without, irrespective of tinnitus definition
Summary
Tinnitus is a common condition that can be severely debilitating It is clinically defined as the sensation of sound in the absence of external stimulation [1], and international studies indicate a prevalence of 5–43% in the general population [2], depending on how it is operationally defined. Tinnitus has been linked to various health problems [3] Among these are several pain syndromes, such as headache [4], temporomandibular disorder [5], and fibromyalgia [6]. Several authors have pointed out similarities between tinnitus and pain Both are subjective sensations [1], may develop into chronic conditions [9], are often accompanied by hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli [10], and frequently co-occur with anxiety and depression [12]
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