Association between chronic headache and tinnitus in an Arab community in Southwest Iran: A population-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between tinnitus and chronic headache in adults aged 35-70 years in southwestern Iran.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study using baseline data from 10,009 participants in the Hoveyzeh Cohort Study. Tinnitus was assessed by self-report, and chronic headache was classified according to the (ICHD-3). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess associations, adjusting for key covariates.

RESULTS

The prevalence of tinnitus and chronic headache was 10.5% and 7.5%, respectively. Chronic headache was associated with higher odds of tinnitus (OR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.48-2.22). Older age (OR = 2.23), dizziness (OR = 1.90), and head trauma (OR = 1.76) were also independent predictors. Male sex (OR = 0.77) and higher physical activity (OR = 0.69) were associated with lower odds.

CONCLUSION

Chronic headache is independently associated with tinnitus in adults, suggesting shared pathophysiological mechanisms and emphasizing the need for integrated clinical approaches.