Migraines may be associated with disorders in the cochlear in the inner ear, including tinnitus and sudden hearing loss, a study finds.
A Taiwanese study has found that migraines increase the risk of tinnitus and sudden hearing loss. The study found than people with migraines may have a more than three times as high risk of tinnitus.
The risk for cochlea disorders — particularly tinnitus — is higher in individuals with a history of migraines, according to the study. The cochlea is located in the inner ear.
Incidence rates of cochlea disorders was found to be higher in patients with a history of migraines compared to the control group. Patients with a history of migraines had a 3.3 times increased risk of tinnitus, a 1.22 times increased risk of sudden deafness (sudden hearing loss) and a small (1.03 times) increased risk of a sensorineural hearing loss.
About the study
The study used data from 1,056 Taiwanese patients identified from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 who had been diagnosed with migraines between 1996 and 2012.These patients were compared to a control group of 4,224 persons.
The study was published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery.
Sources: JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery and www.clinicalpainadvisor.com
