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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2022; 26(01): e063-e068
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1722251
Original Research

Do Body Mass Index Levels Correlate with Tinnitus Among Teachers?

Authors

  • Luciana Lozza de Moraes Marchiori 

    1   Interdisciplinary Health Promotion Intervention Laboratory, Universidade Cesumar, Maringá, PR, Brazil

  • Glória de Moraes Marchiori 

    1   Interdisciplinary Health Promotion Intervention Laboratory, Universidade Cesumar, Maringá, PR, Brazil
    2   Scholarship Undergraduate Research, Universidade Cesumar, Maringá, PR, Brazil

  • Priscila Carlos 

    1   Interdisciplinary Health Promotion Intervention Laboratory, Universidade Cesumar, Maringá, PR, Brazil
    2   Scholarship Undergraduate Research, Universidade Cesumar, Maringá, PR, Brazil

  • Samuel Lopes Benites 

    1   Interdisciplinary Health Promotion Intervention Laboratory, Universidade Cesumar, Maringá, PR, Brazil
    3   Postgraduation Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil

  • Marina Stephany Bobroff Mendes 

    4   Doctoral and Master’s programs in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Londrina/ Universidade Pitágoras Unopar, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

  • Daiane Soares de Almeida Ciquinato 

    4   Doctoral and Master’s programs in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Londrina/ Universidade Pitágoras Unopar, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
    5   Departament of Occupational Health, Prefecture of Cambe, Cambe, PR, Brazil
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Abstract

Introduction Working conditions can contribute to the development of lifestyle-related diseases among teachers, including obesity and tinnitus. Describing tinnitus in relation to characteristics and comorbidities can help the treatment and prognosis of teachers affected by this symptom.

Objective To verify a possible association between tinnitus complaint and body mass index (BMI) in teachers.

Methods Cross-sectional study with a sample of teachers who responded to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and to the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). The BMI (kg/m2) was calculated based on self-reported body weight (in kilograms) divided by height (in meters squared). Nonparametric statistics were applied adopting a significance level < 0.05

Results A total of 83 teachers were assessed, with a mean age 48 ± 9.7 years old; 63.9% (n= 53) were females; 44.6% were eutrophic (n = 37), and 16.9% (n = 14) were obese. Of the total, 19.3% (n = 16) reported tinnitus. No differences were found between the groups and BMI (p > 0.05), although there was a significant difference between the Tinnitus and No Tinnitus groups for age (p < 0.001). The chi-squared test showed an association between age group and tinnitus (p < 0.028); those with tinnitus were in the 49 to 65 years old age group. In addition, there was a moderate correlation between tinnitus parameters (VAS; THI-Functional; THI-Total) and BMI.

Conclusion There was a moderate correlation between tinnitus parameters and BMI indicating that, as the BMI increased, so did the impact of tinnitus in the lives of the teachers. Body mass index should be considered a factor in tinnitus assessment and rehabilitation process.

Keywords

body mass index - levels - correlate - teachers - tinnitus

Financial assistance

Fundação Nacional de Desenvolvimento do Ensino (FUNADESP).




Publication History

Received: 05 September 2020

Accepted: 09 November 2020

Article published online:
28 June 2021

© 2021. Fundação Otorrinolaringologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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