Association of tinnitus and electromagnetic hypersensitivity: hints for a shared pathophysiology?

PloS one · 2009 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4963

Tinnitus was more frequent among electromagnetic hypersensitive participants than controls (50.72% vs 17.5%), while tinnitus duration and severity did not differ between groups. Electromagnetic hypersensitivity and tinnitus were independent risk factors for s…

Study snapshot

PublicationPloS one · 2009

Study typecase_control

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is a frequent condition with high morbidity and impairment in quality of life. The pathophysiology is still incompletely understood. Electromagnetic fields are discussed to be involved in the multi-factorial pathogenesis of tinnitus, but data proofing this relationship are very limited. Potential health hazards of electromagnetic fields (EMF) have been under discussion for long. Especially, individuals claiming themselves to be electromagnetic hypersensitive suffer from a variety of unspecific symptoms, which they attribute to EMF-exposure. The aim of the study was to elucidate the relationship between EMF-exposure, electromagnetic hypersensitivity and tinnitus using a case-control design. METHODOLOGY: Tinnitus occurrence and tinnitus severity were assessed by questionnaires in 89 electromagnetic hypersensitive patients and 107 controls matched for age-, gender, living surroundings and workplace. Using a logistic regression approach, potential risk factors for the development of tinnitus were evaluated. FINDINGS: Tinnitus was significantly more frequent in the electromagnetic hypersensitive group (50.72% vs. 17.5%) whereas tinnitus duration and severity did not differ between groups. Electromagnetic hypersensitivity and tinnitus were independent risk factors for sleep disturbances. However, measures of individual EMF-exposure like e.g. cell phone use did not show any association with tinnitus. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that tinnitus is associated with subjective electromagnetic hypersensitivity. An individual vulnerability probably due to an over activated cortical distress network seems to be responsible for, both, electromagnetic hypersensitivity and tinnitus. Hence, therapeutic efforts should focus on treatment strategies (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy) aiming at normalizing this dysfunctional distress network.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecase_control

Effect directionmixed

PopulationElectromagnetic hypersensitive patients and matched controls

Sample size196

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Tinnitus occurrence
Tinnitus severity
Tinnitus duration
Sleep disturbances

Limitations

EMF exposure appears to be assessed via individual measures such as cell phone use, but details of exposure assessment are not provided in the abstract
Outcomes (tinnitus occurrence/severity) were assessed by questionnaires (self-report)
Case-control design limits causal inference

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "case_control",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "self-reported electromagnetic hypersensitivity; individual EMF-exposure measures (e.g., cell phone use)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Electromagnetic hypersensitive patients and matched controls",
  "sample_size": 196,
  "outcomes": [
    "Tinnitus occurrence",
    "Tinnitus severity",
    "Tinnitus duration",
    "Sleep disturbances"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Tinnitus was more frequent among electromagnetic hypersensitive participants than controls (50.72% vs 17.5%), while tinnitus duration and severity did not differ between groups. Electromagnetic hypersensitivity and tinnitus were independent risk factors for sleep disturbances. Individual EMF-exposure measures (e.g., cell phone use) showed no association with tinnitus.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "EMF exposure appears to be assessed via individual measures such as cell phone use, but details of exposure assessment are not provided in the abstract",
    "Outcomes (tinnitus occurrence/severity) were assessed by questionnaires (self-report)",
    "Case-control design limits causal inference"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "tinnitus",
    "electromagnetic hypersensitivity",
    "EHS",
    "EMF exposure",
    "cell phone use",
    "sleep disturbances",
    "case-control",
    "questionnaire",
    "logistic regression"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "Addresses health symptoms attributed to EMF exposure and electromagnetic hypersensitivity, a topic often discussed in EMF health risk frameworks."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005026
PubMed: 19325894

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