Search

Background Tinnitus is defined as the conscious perception of a sensation of sound that occurs in the absence of an external stimulus. This audiological symptom affects 7–19% of the adult population. The aim of this study is to describe the associated comorbidities present in patients with tinnitus using joint and conditional probability analysis. Patients Patients of both genders, diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral tinnitus, aged between 20 and 45 years, and who had a full computerised medical record, were selected. Methods Study groups were formed on the basis of the following clinical aspects: (1) audiological findings; (2) vestibular findings; (3) comorbidities such as, temporomandibular dysfunction, tubal dysfunction, otosclerosis and, (4) triggering factors of tinnitus noise exposure, respiratory tract infection, use of ototoxic and/or drugs. Results Of the patients with tinnitus, 27 (65%) reported hearing loss, 11 (26.19%) temporomandibular dysfunction, and 11 (26.19%) with vestibular disorders. When performing the joint probability analysis, it was found that the probability that a patient with tinnitus having hearing loss was 27 42 0.65, and 20 42 0.47 for bilateral type. The result for P(A ∩ B)=30%. Bayes’ theorem P( A i B ) = P ( A i ∩ B ) P ( B ) was used, and various probabilities were calculated. Therefore, in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction and vestibular disorders, a posterior probability of P(Aі/B)=31.44% was calculated. Conclusions Consideration should be given to the joint and conditional probability approach as tools for the study of different pathologies.

ResumenAntecedentesEl acúfeno se define como la percepción consciente de una sensación sonora en ausencia de un estímulo externo que lo produzca. Este síntoma audiológico, afecta del 7 al 19% de la población adulta. El objetivo del este trabajo es describir las comorbilidades asociadas presentes en los pacientes con acúfeno, mediante el análisis de probabilidad conjunta y condicional.PacientesSe seleccionaron pacientes diagnosticados con acúfeno unilateral o bilateral, de ambos géneros, con edades comprendidas entre los 20 y 45 años; con expediente electrónico completo.Material y métodosSe formaron grupos de estudio en base a los siguientes aspectos clínicos: 1) hallazgos audiológicos; 2) hallazgos vestibulares; 3) comorbilidades tales como disfunción temporomadibular, disfunción tubaria, otoesclerosis, y 4) factores desencadenantes del acúfeno como exposición a ruido, infección de vías respiratorias, uso de ototóxicos y/o drogas.ResultadosDel total de pacientes con acúfeno, 27 (65%) pacientes refirieron hipoacusia; 11 (26.19%) disfunción temporomandibular y 11 (26.19%) alteraciones vestibulares. Al realizar el análisis de probabilidad conjunta, se obtuvo que la probabilidad de que un paciente con acúfeno tenga hipoacusia fue 2742 0.65 y que la hipoacusia sea de tipo bilateral 2042 0.47, el resultado para P (A ∩ B) = 30%. Se utilizó el teorema de Bayes P (AiB) = P(Ai∩B)P(B) y se calcularon diversas probabilidades; así, en los pacientes con disfunción temporomandibular y con alteraciones vestibulares, la probabilidad a posteriori calculada fue P (Aі/B) = 31.44%.ConclusionesSe debe considerar la probabilidad conjunta y condicional como herramientas de aproximación probabilística para el estudio de las diversas patologías.AbstractBackgroundTinnitus is defined as the conscious perception of a sensation of sound that occurs in the absence of an external stimulus. This audiological symptom affects 7% to 19% of the adult population. The aim of this study is to describe the associated comorbidities present in patients with tinnitus usingjoint and conditional probability analysis.PatientsPatients of both genders, diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral tinnitus, aged between 20 and 45 years, and had a full computerised medical record, were selected.MethodsStudy groups were formed on the basis of the following clinical aspects: 1) audiological findings; 2) vestibular findings; 3) comorbidities such as, temporomandibular dysfunction, tubal dysfunction, otosclerosis and, 4) triggering factors of tinnitus noise exposure, respiratory tract infection, use of ototoxic and/or drugs.ResultsOf the patients with tinnitus, 27 (65%) reported hearing loss, 11 (26.19%) temporomandibular dysfunction, and 11 (26.19%) with vestibular disorders. When performing the joint probability analysis, it was found that the probability that a patient with tinnitus having hearing loss was 2742 0.65, and 2042 0.47 for bilateral type. The result for P (A ∩ B)=30%. Bayes’ theorem P (AiB) = P(Ai∩B)P(B) was used, and various probabilities were calculated. Therefore, in patients with temporomandibulardysfunction and vestibular disorders, a posterior probability of P (Aі/B)=31.44% was calculated.ConclusionsConsideration should be given to the joint and conditional probability approach as tools for the study of different pathologies.