'Tinnitus' Harms Both Mental Health and Physical Well-being in the Elderly

Professor Lee Yong-je's Team at Gangnam Severance Analyzes Mental Health and Quality of Life Indicators in Elderly Patients with Tinnitus
Elderly Patients with Severe Tinnitus Show 2.5 Times Higher Suicidal Ideation and 1.9 Times Greater Psychological Distress Compared to Normal Group

Professor Lee Yong-je, Department of Family Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital (left), Professor Park Hye-min, Department of Family Medicine, CHA University.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The common condition experienced in daily life, "tinnitus (耳鳴)," has been found to have a negative impact on the mental health and quality of life of the elderly.

Professor Lee Yong-je from the Department of Family Medicine at Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital, Professor Park Hye-min from the Department of Family Medicine at CHA University (first author), Professor Jung Jin-se from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Severance Hospital, and Professor Kim Jong-gu from the Department of Family Medicine at Wonju Severance Christian Hospital recently announced research results revealing the correlation between tinnitus in the elderly and mental health and quality of life.

Tinnitus is a condition where noise is heard inside the ear without external sound stimuli. The prevalence rate among Korean adults is 20.7%, increasing by 3% annually. Tinnitus can significantly affect not only hearing but also sleep quality, concentration decline, and feelings of depression, thus requiring consideration of mental health aspects in addition to otolaryngological treatment.

The research team analyzed the relationship between tinnitus, mental health, and quality of life in 5,129 individuals aged 60 to 79 who participated in the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The subjects were divided into three groups based on the severity of tinnitus (normal, mild tinnitus, severe chronic tinnitus). Mental health was evaluated through three items: depression, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation. Quality of life was analyzed using the EQ-5D questionnaire, covering five items: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression.

The results showed that the severe chronic tinnitus group had 1.7 times higher depression, 1.9 times higher psychological distress, and 2.5 times higher suicidal ideation compared to the normal group. Elderly individuals suffering from severe tinnitus also had a significantly higher risk of reduced quality of life. Compared to the normal group, the severe chronic tinnitus group showed 1.8 times decreased mobility, 2.1 times decreased self-care ability, 2 times more limitations in usual activities, 1.9 times more pain and discomfort, and 2.1 times higher anxiety and depression.

Professor Lee Yong-je stated, “Tinnitus and depression share several common risk factors,” and added, “This study confirmed that tinnitus affects not only the mental health but also the quality of life of the elderly.” He continued, “Tinnitus leads to reduced sleep quality, which can disrupt biological rhythms, adversely affecting the metabolism of serotonin, the happiness hormone, causing hormonal imbalance that impacts the entire body. Therefore, comprehensive treatment considering mental health and quality of life improvement, as well as treatment of tinnitus itself in the elderly, is necessary,” he emphasized.

The study results were published in the international journal of geriatric medicine, the Journal of Applied Gerontology.

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