A quantitative assessment of the disease burden and work productivity among individuals with tinnitus: A questionnaire-based survey

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between tinnitus severity, comorbidities, coexisting symptoms, and work productivity in adults with chronic tinnitus and quantitatively evaluate the disease burden and socioeconomic impact of tinnitus. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted in December 2024, enrolling 1101 adults aged ≥18 years who had experienced tinnitus symptoms for >3 months within the past year. Tinnitus severity was assessed using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), and work productivity was assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-General Health (WPAI-GH) questionnaire. Productivity loss in monetary terms was estimated using data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. RESULTS: Among the 1101 participants, 52.6 % were classified as having mild to severe tinnitus, indicating a clinically significant group. The proportion of comorbidities, such as anemia, anxiety, and insomnia, and coexisting symptoms, including sleep disorders and fatigue, increased with tinnitus severity. The most frequently reported timings at which tinnitus symptoms became bothersome were "when tired," "before falling asleep," and "when stressed," and these were more common as tinnitus severity increased. The median WPAI-GH outcomes were 0 % for absenteeism and 30.0 % for presenteeism, with overall work impairment and activity impairment significantly higher in groups with greater tinnitus severity than in the "no handicap" group (p < .001). Based on these values, the estimated monthly productivity loss was JPY 147,200 in the clinically significant group, with an annual loss of JPY 2.18 million in severe cases. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate the work productivity of individuals with tinnitus in Japan. Greater tinnitus severity was associated with a greater incidence of comorbidities, coexisting symptoms, and more frequent timings at which tinnitus symptoms became bothersome, reflecting an increased physical and psychological burden. Reduced presenteeism was a major factor influencing work productivity. By quantitatively demonstrating the socioeconomic impact of tinnitus, these findings provide evidence for developing future clinical guidelines for tinnitus management.