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Tinnitus risk factors and its evolution over time

Author

Listed:
  • Lise Hobeika

    (IHU reConnect
    Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière
    McGill University
    McGill University)

  • Matt Fillingim

    (McGill University
    McGill University)

  • Christophe Tanguay-Sabourin

    (McGill University
    McGill University
    Université de Montréal)

  • Mathieu Roy

    (McGill University
    McGill University
    McGill University)

  • Alain Londero

    (IHU reConnect)

  • Séverine Samson

    (IHU reConnect
    Université de Lille
    Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital)

  • Etienne Vachon-Presseau

    (McGill University
    McGill University
    McGill University)

Abstract

Subjective tinnitus is an auditory percept unrelated to external sounds, for which the limited understanding of its risk factors complicates the prevention and management. In this study, we train two distinct machine learning models to predict tinnitus presence (how often individuals perceive tinnitus) and severity separately using socio-demographic, psychological, and health-related predictors with the UK Biobank dataset (192,993 participants, 41,042 with tinnitus). We show that hearing health was the primary risk factor of both presence and severity, while mood, neuroticism, and sleep predicted severity. The severity model accurately predicts tinnitus progression over nine years, with a large effect size for individuals developing severe tinnitus (Cohen’s d = 1.3, ROC = 0.78). This result is validated on 463 individuals from the Tinnitus Research Initiative database. We simplify the severity model to a six-item clinical questionnaire that detects individuals at risk of severe tinnitus, for which early supportive care would be crucial.

Suggested Citation

  • Lise Hobeika & Matt Fillingim & Christophe Tanguay-Sabourin & Mathieu Roy & Alain Londero & Séverine Samson & Etienne Vachon-Presseau, 2025. "Tinnitus risk factors and its evolution over time," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59445-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59445-3
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