Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39085387›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2024

Prevalence and risk factors of self-reported hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness in a population-based sample from rural northeastern Germany.

Friedrich Ihler, Tina Brzoska, Reyhan Altindal, Oliver Dziemba, Henry Völzke, Chia-Jung Busch, Till Ittermann

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Hearing-Functioning Problems Across High-Burden Adult Health Conditions in Africa.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Exploring the Interplay Between Physical Activity and Idiopathic Tinnitus Management: A Scoping Review on Severity Modulation and Perceptual Outcomes.Indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery : official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Friedrich IhlerDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Fleischmannstrasse 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany. friedrich.ihler@med.uni-greifswald.de.
Tina BrzoskaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Fleischmannstrasse 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany.
Reyhan AltindalDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Fleischmannstrasse 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany.
Oliver DziembaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Fleischmannstrasse 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany.
Henry VölzkeInstitute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475, Greifswald, Germany.
Chia-Jung BuschDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Fleischmannstrasse 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany.
Till IttermannInstitute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475, Greifswald, Germany.

Funding

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) 01 ZZ 9603, 01 ZZ 0103, 01 ZZ 0403, and 01 ZZ 0701
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

A close anatomical and physiological relationship is known between the senses of hearing and balance, while an additional pathophysiological interaction is supposed. The mechanisms underlying this association are not yet fully understood, especially in individuals without a known specific otologic disorder. In particular, only scarce information on the combined occurrence of audiovestibular sensory impairment is available so far. Therefore, this study aims to provide further insight into the prevalence and co-prevalence of the audiovestibular symptoms hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness. Additionally, the influence of potential risk factors from lifestyle habits as well as cardiovascular and metabolic conditions on the development of those symptoms is studied. Data was analyzed from 8134 individuals from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP). SHIP pursues a broad and comprehensive examination program in chronologically separated cohorts with longitudinal follow-up. Cohorts are sampled from Western Pomerania, a rural region of north-eastern Germany. The study population represents a cross-sectional analysis from the cohorts SHIP-START (recruited 1997-2001) and SHIP-TREND (recruited 2008-2012), sampled for baseline investigations (SHIP-START-0 and SHIP-TREND-0) at the age of 20-79 years. Audiovestibular symptoms as outcome variables were assessed by structured questionnaires. Additionally, individuals were comprehensively characterized regarding modifiable lifestyle factors as well as cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, allowing the assessment of their role as exposure variables. We calculated a weighted prevalence of 14.2% for hearing loss, 9.7% for tinnitus, and 13.5% for dizziness in the population. Prevalence increased with age and differed among the sexes. A considerable share of 28.0% of the investigated individuals reported more than one symptom at once. The prevalence of hearing loss as well as tinnitus increased between the two cohorts. A moderate positive correlation was found between the occurrence of hearing loss and tinnitus (phi-coefficient 0.318). In multivariable regression analyses, education was identified as a significant protective factor while only smoking was significantly associated with all three symptoms. Furthermore, several cardiovascular risk factors contributed to both hearing loss and dizziness. In conclusion, audiovestibular symptoms are highly prevalent in the investigated population. A considerable but complex influence of risk factors points towards a relation with neuronal as well as cardiovascular disease processes. To clarify the underlying mechanisms, the interaction between the senses of hearing and balance as well as the mode of action of the risk factors should be evaluated in more detail in the future.

Indexed as

DizzinessHearing LossRural PopulationSelf ReportTinnitusAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleGermanyHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceRisk FactorsYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID39085387
PMCPMC11291685

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.