Associations Between Physical Activity, Tinnitus, and Tinnitus Severity. Issue 3 (21st November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Shanwen; Yang, Xue; Jiang, Yuan; Wu, Feihu; Li, Yifan; Qiu, Jianxin; Tong, Busheng; Liu, Yehai
• Is Part Of: Ear and hearing. Volume 44:Issue 3(2023)
• Page Start: 619
• Page End: 626
• Publication Date: 2022-11-21
• Subjects: Epidemiology -- NHANES -- Physical activity -- Tinnitus; Hearing disorders -- Periodicals; Audiology -- Periodicals; 612.85
• DOI: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001306
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0196-0202

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To examine the associations between physical activity and tinnitus development and physical activity and tinnitus severity in a large representative sample of US adults. Design: Data were obtained from 3826 eligible participants (20 to 69 years) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2015 and 2016. Physical activity was assessed using a Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. We used multivariable logistic regression to test the associations of physical activity (without physical activity, with physical activity) and amount of physical activity (min/week, in quartiles) with tinnitus symptoms. Adults with depressive symptoms were excluded, and the models were controlled for relevant sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related covariates. A restricted cubic spline was used to explore the dose-response relationship between the amount of physical activity and tinnitus. Results: Overall, 12.8% of the population who engaged in physical activity reported tinnitus, compared with 18.5% of the population who did not ( p = 0.005). Subgroup analysis based on the amount of physical activity showed that participants who performed physical activity (150 to 300, 310 to 540, and 550 to 4800 min/week) had lower risks of tinnitus than those with no physical activity (odds ratio = 0.72, 0.56, and 0.62, respectively), after adjusting for covariates. However, no correlation was observed between physical activity and tinnitus severity in the present study. The dose-response analysis showed a nonlinear relationship (P for nonlinearity = 0.04) between the amount of physical activity and the risk of tinnitus. Conclusions: Physical activity may be associated with a reduced risk of tinnitus. Further research using a longitudinal design is required to confirm these findings and clarify the direction of causation.