Tinnitus is a common and multifactorial auditory condition associated with considerable psychosocial burden. Evidence regarding its relationship with demographic, lifestyle, and medical factors remains inconsistent. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of tinnitus in an urban Western European population, focusing on lifestyle, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics within the Hamburg City...
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Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
No immediate practice change; findings add epidemiological context on urban tinnitus risk factors but require review of full results before influencing screening or counselling protocols.
Large urban cohort data on tinnitus risk factors can sharpen how audiologists counsel patients about modifiable lifestyle contributors to tinnitus onset and persistence.
- 01Data drawn from the Hamburg City Health Study, a large urban population cohort.
- 02Study examines demographic, lifestyle, and medical correlates of tinnitus.
- 03Published in European Archives of Otorhinolaryngology (2026).
- 04Findings may inform public health messaging around noise and lifestyle-related tinnitus risk.
- 05Retrospective/observational design limits causal inference.
Lifestyle and medical factors are associated with tinnitus prevalence in an urban population.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42806132
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00405-026-10518-z.
- Journal
- European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Urban adults participating in the Hamburg City Health Study
- Intervention
- Observational assessment of demographic, lifestyle, and medical factors
- Comparator
- Participants without tinnitus within the same cohort
Primary outcomes
Prevalence of tinnitus; Association of lifestyle and medical factors with tinnitus