Association of Tinnitus and Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Hints for a Shared Pathophysiology 英文参考文献.docVIP

AssociationofTinnitusandElectromagnetic Hypersensitivity:HintsforaSharedPathophysiology? MichaelLandgrebe1*,UlrichFrick1,2,SimoneHauser1,GoeranHajak1,BertholdLangguth1 1DepartmentofPsychiatry,Psychosomatics,andPsychotherapy,UniversityofRegensburg,Regensburg,Germany,2CarinthiaUniversityofAppliedSciences,Feldkirchen, Austria Abstract Background:Tinnitusisafrequentconditionwithhighmorbidityandimpairmentinqualityoflife.Thepathophysiologyis still incompletely understood. Electromagnetic fields are discussed to be involved in the multi-factorial pathogenesis of tinnitus,butdataproofingthisrelationshipareverylimited.Potentialhealthhazardsofelectromagneticfields(EMF)have beenunderdiscussionforlong.Especially,individualsclaimingthemselvestobeelectromagnetichypersensitivesufferfrom a variety of unspecific symptoms, which they attribute to EMF-exposure. The aim of the study was to elucidate the relationshipbetweenEMF-exposure,electromagnetichypersensitivityandtinnitususingacase-controldesign. Methodology: Tinnitus occurrence and tinnitus severity were assessed by questionnaires in 89 electromagnetic hypersensitive patients and 107 controls matched for age-, gender, living surroundings and workplace. Using a logistic regressionapproach,potentialriskfactorsforthedevelopmentoftinnituswereevaluated. Findings:Tinnituswassignificantlymorefrequentintheelectromagnetichypersensitivegroup(50.72%vs.17.5%)whereas tinnitus duration and severity did not differ between groups. Electromagnetic hypersensitivity and tinnitus were independentriskfactorsforsleepdisturbances.However,measuresofindividualEMF-exposurelikee.g.cellphoneusedid notshowanyassociationwithtinnitus. Conclusions: Our data indicate that tinnitus is associated with subjective electromagnetic hypersensitivity. An individual vulnerabilityprobablyduetoanoveractivatedcorticaldistressnetworkseemstoberesponsiblefor,both,electromagnetic hypersensitivity and tinnitus. Hence, therapeutic efforts should focus on treatment strategies