Association Between Tinnitus and Suicidal Ideation in Postmenopausal Women: An Observational Study

Kexin Wang; Ying Cui; Tong Wu

doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2024.10.012

Association Between Tinnitus and Suicidal Ideation in Postmenopausal Women: An Observational Study

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2024 Nov 8:S1064-7481(24)00510-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2024.10.012. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Kexin Wang¹, Ying Cui², Tong Wu³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gynecology (KW), People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
² Department of Public Health Science (YC), Graduate School and Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Department of Otolaryngology (TW), Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated First Hospital, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.

PMID: 39562270
DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2024.10.012

Abstract

Objective: Tinnitus has been linked to mental health concerns, including suicidal ideation. This study, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), investigates the association between tinnitus and suicidal ideation in postmenopausal women, aiming to identify tinnitus as a potential risk factor for suicidal thoughts in this population.

Method: A total of 1,792 postmenopausal women were included after excluding males, premenopausal women, and participants with missing data on tinnitus, suicidal ideation, or key covariates. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between tinnitus and suicidal ideation, with adjustments for relevant confounders. Data were drawn from the NHANES database, specifically from the 2011 to 2012, 2015 to 2016, and 2017 to 2018 survey cycles.

Results: Of the 1,792 postmenopausal women, 4.41% reported suicidal ideation. Tinnitus prevalence was significantly higher in women with suicidal ideation (P = 0.007). Weighted multivariable logistic regression revealed that women with tinnitus had 2.43 times higher odds of reporting suicidal ideation compared to those without tinnitus (OR: 2.43, 95% CI: 1.07-5.52, P = 0.035).

Conclusion: Tinnitus appears to be a significant factor associated with suicidal ideation in postmenopausal women. These findings underscore the importance of considering tinnitus in mental health assessments, especially among individuals at risk for suicidal thoughts.