Demographic characteristics for Iraqi patients suffering from tinnitus

Abstract

Background: Tinnitus is the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. A common problem that can be annoying .sufferers may experience various psychological side effects that may have a devastating impact on their daily lives. The Aim: to evaluation the role of demographic characteristics on Iraqi patients suffering from tinnitus and hearing loss and assess the impact of tinnitus on the quality of life of patients in Baghdad. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study involved 150 patients with chronic tinnitus, attending the ENT clinics in Baghdad medical city, AL-Yarmoukteaching hospital and AL-Imamain AL-Kademain medical city, using a 25-item Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire. Results: fifty nine point four percent of the patients were grade 4 in the THI The mean age of 86 men, and 64 women was 48.21 (+-) 14.97 years. The male patients had higher catastrophic subscale scores as compared with the female patients. older patients (>60years) got higher catastrophic subscale score than other age groups. patient with long duration of disease more than (5 years) got higher scoring of the catastrophic subscale (101.52) than patients with duration less than ( 5 years).patients with peripheral residency got significantly higher catastrophic subscale score than patients with urban residency,patints with primary and less edjucational group got significantly higher functional subscale score. retired patients got higher catastrophic subscale score.it has a negative impact on tinnitus sufferer more than the other subscales. Conclusion: this study shows Tinnitus had a negative impact on the quality of life of Iraqi patients .