Study explores new-onset tinnitus after COVID-19 vaccination

In a recent study published in The Laryngoscope, researchers assessed the incidence of new-onset tinnitus after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination.

Study: Prevalence of New-Onset Tinnitus after COVID-19 Vaccination with Comparison to Other Vaccinations. Image Credit: Miss Ty/Shutterstock
Study: Prevalence of New-Onset Tinnitus after COVID-19 Vaccination with Comparison to Other Vaccinations. Image Credit: Miss Ty/Shutterstock

The growing prevalence of vaccine hesitancy and anxiety about the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine's side effects has become an important global health concern. As a result, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, extensive research has been conducted on the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination. Recently, tinnitus has drawn attention as a possible side effect of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Following COVID-19 vaccination, patients have reported the development of life-altering tinnitus that may be accompanied by hearing loss, thus drastically damaging a patient's quality of life.

About the study

In the present study, researchers determined the proportion of patients who experienced new-onset tinnitus within 21 days of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine compared to those who received influenza, polysaccharide pneumococcus, and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) vaccines.

The TriNetX Analytics Network, a federated health research network, collected de-identified electronic health record (EHR) data from over 78 million patients across 45 health care organizations (HCOs) in the US. This data was employed to create a retrospective cohort design. In the US Collaborative Network of the TriNetX platform, there were 78,058,186 patients with any EHR.

Five patient groups were identified: (1) those who were administered the first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose between 15 December 2020 and 1 March 2022, (2) those who received their second mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose between 15 December 2020 and 1 March 2022, (3) those who received the influenza vaccine between 1 January 2019 and 1 December 2019, (4) those who received Tdap vaccine between 1 January 2019 and 1 December 2019, and (5) those who received pneumococcal vaccine between 1 January 2019 and 1 December 2019.

The dates corresponding to the COVID-19 vaccination group ranged from the first day of COVID-19 vaccination in the US to a hypothetical date that provided a window of more than three weeks before the data was obtained. To rule out the likelihood of COVID-19 vaccination within these three groups, three additional common vaccination groups were evaluated throughout 2019.

The team defined a vaccination event as the first time a patient fulfilled the criteria in a specific time window, implying that the first COVID-19 dose was assessed in the first dose cohort. The COVID-19 second dosage group experienced precisely two documented vaccination procedures. The diagnosis of tinnitus in a patient with no prior history of the condition was referred to as new-onset tinnitus.

Results

The study results showed that within 21 days of receiving their first and second dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, 0.038% of the 2,575,235 participants and 0.031% of the 1,477,890 participants were diagnosed with tinnitus. Following the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, there was a decreased likelihood of experiencing tinnitus than following the first dose. Compared to the influenza group, tinnitus was reported by 998,991 influenza vaccine patients and 1,009,935 first-dose COVID-19 vaccine patients. Furthermore, there were 720 cases of a new diagnosis of tinnitus in the influenza group and 374 cases in the first dose COVID-19 group.

As compared to the Tdap cohort, there were a total of 444,708 Tdap vaccine patients and 444,721 first-dose COVID-19 vaccine patients. These included 314 cases of a new tinnitus diagnosis in the Tdap group and 133 new tinnitus cases in the first dose COVID-19 group. in the case of the polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine group, the team found 153,344 pneumococcal vaccine patients compared to 154,825 patients who received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Among these, there were 132 cases of a new encounter diagnosis of tinnitus in the pneumococcal vaccine patients, while 79 tinnitus cases occurred in the first dose COVID-19 group.

In comparing the COVID-19 second dose group, 1,516,282 patients received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 1,516,282 patients received the first dose. These included 465 cases of a new diagnosis of tinnitus in the COVID-19 second dose group and 577 new tinnitus cases in the COVID-19 first dose group.

Overall the study findings showed that patients had a higher chance of experiencing tinnitus after receiving Tdap, influenza, and pneumococcus vaccines than after the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Journal reference:
Bhavana Kunkalikar

Written by

Bhavana Kunkalikar

Bhavana Kunkalikar is a medical writer based in Goa, India. Her academic background is in Pharmaceutical sciences and she holds a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy. Her educational background allowed her to foster an interest in anatomical and physiological sciences. Her college project work based on ‘The manifestations and causes of sickle cell anemia’ formed the stepping stone to a life-long fascination with human pathophysiology.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Kunkalikar, Bhavana. (2022, September 15). Study explores new-onset tinnitus after COVID-19 vaccination. News-Medical. Retrieved on October 13, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220915/Study-explores-new-onset-tinnitus-after-COVID-19-vaccination.aspx.

  • MLA

    Kunkalikar, Bhavana. "Study explores new-onset tinnitus after COVID-19 vaccination". News-Medical. 13 October 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220915/Study-explores-new-onset-tinnitus-after-COVID-19-vaccination.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Kunkalikar, Bhavana. "Study explores new-onset tinnitus after COVID-19 vaccination". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220915/Study-explores-new-onset-tinnitus-after-COVID-19-vaccination.aspx. (accessed October 13, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Kunkalikar, Bhavana. 2022. Study explores new-onset tinnitus after COVID-19 vaccination. News-Medical, viewed 13 October 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220915/Study-explores-new-onset-tinnitus-after-COVID-19-vaccination.aspx.

Comments

  1. Robert Edmonds Robert Edmonds United States says:

    While yes tinnitus was noted as lower to the compared vaccines. The rate change between dose 1 to dose 2 still supports a potential causal relationship. We would expect no rate change if not related. While this does not influence recommendations for COVID vaccination, the mitigation of this adverse event is not provided to the patient which may be via a brief course of corticosteroids.

    This result suggests the signal may be masked in passive monitoring, and there just so happens to be a recent article detecting a signal for tinnitus when accounting for masking.
    idp.springer.com/authorize%3A%2F%2Flink.springer.com%2Farticle%2F10.1007%2Fs40264-022-01186-z

  2. Robert Anthony Robert Anthony United States says:

    Thanks for the study.  However, to be fair the results do not discount the link, they only show that the covid vaccine is no more likely (or slightly less likely) to be linked to the onset of tinnitus. Thus, there could still be a causal link.  A third control group is needed: those who have received no vaccination.  Still interesting research and I am glad it was completed having been one of the people who experienced the onset of tinnitus within 3 weeks of my second dose of mRNA.

  3. Shaun Bar Shaun Bar United States says:

    I developed severe tinnitus and severe bilateral otalgia post covid Pfizer vaccination along with neuropathy, muscle fasciculations, dysautonomia, and atrial fibrillation.  I have reached out to experts across the USA and the world.  There is no one real comprehensive research on these adverse effects to identify the underlying cause.

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
COVID-19 significantly raises stroke risk