Clinical characterization of tinnitus and its effect on quality of life among patients attending ENT clinic at Muhimbili national hospital

Abstract

Introduction Tinnitus is a prevalent problem. It can cause significant levels of distress including anxiety, irritability, depression, sleep disturbances, obsessive compulsive disorders and somatisation to its sufferer thereby affecting their quality of life (QOL). These effects affect the response to treatment and can be measured using self reported questionnaires like the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. This study will describe the characteristics of tinnitus and its impact on the QOL of adult sufferers in the Muhimbili Hospital ENT clinic. Objective To determine clinical characteristics of tinnitus patients attending ENT clinic in Muhimbili and their effects on quality of life Study Design: A Descriptive cross-sectional hospital based study. Study Location; The study was conducted between august 2013 and January 2014 at the ENT outpatients‟ clinic, Muhimbili Hospital, Dar es Salaam Tanzania. Subjects and Methods A total of 1181 attended ENT clinic at Muhimbili National hospital and 92 patients had tinnitus. The instrument for the data collection was a close-ended questionnaire that elicited information on demographic, Tinnitus handicap inventory score to asses quality of life and history of tinnitus from the sample population. Data analysis was done by using the statistical package for social science (SPSS version 11). The results presented using, descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation and test of associations. Results: 1181 patients were screened during the study period, 92 (7.8.%) were found to have tinnitus. 52( 56.5%) were males and 40(43.5%) were females.The most affected age group being 39-48years(24%). Most patients had tinnitus for 4weeks to 1year(39.1%), most prevalent origin being the right ear(53.3%).Quality of life was affected slightly in 75% of patients with tinnitus and among the slightly affected group,age group 29-38year were more prevalent.(84%)p=0.12. Female had 83.5% in slightly affected group with p=0.21. Number of type of tinnitus heard had impact on quality of as those with more than one type of tinnitus heard had more moderate to catastrophic effects.(79%)p=0,002. Patients who had tinnitus for less than 4 weeks their quality of life was affected moderate to catastrophic with 63%. p=0.04. Recommendation: The study had limitations of short duration, small sample and lack of equipements that could match the tinnitus pitch. Long duration studies incorporating adequate researchers to increase power of study and proper equipments are required to get sufficient data for analysis so as to establish proper treatment options of tinnitus among our settings.