File:NSMRL Study Incidence Risk Factors Tinnitus in USN Submariners AD1134995 04JAN2020.pdf

Description

This source contains the abstract and acknowledgements for a retrospective cohort study that examined **tinnitus incidence rates and risk factors in male U.S. Submarine Force personnel**. It states that **tinnitus is the most prevalent service-connected disability among Veterans** accessing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare, but there had been no studies on its prevalence or incidence specifically in the U.S. Submarine Force. The study, which used data from 2004 to 2014, found 317 tinnitus medical encounter diagnoses among 19,655 submariners, yielding an incidence rate of 3.5 cases per 1,000 person-years. Adjusted hazard ratios indicated that being older upon Submarine Force entry or having the most time assigned to submariner duty was associated with the highest risk for tinnitus. For officers alone, prior assignment to surface ships was associated with a protective effect. The study suggests that future hearing conservation efforts should focus on preventive measures, including broadening the occupational roles in submarines that require personal protective equipment for hearing loss and tinnitus prevention. The work was supported by the Office of Naval Research.

Abstract

This study examined tinnitus in U.S. Submarine Force personnel, noting it is the most prevalent service-connected disability among Veterans accessing VA healthcare. The retrospective cohort study found an incidence rate of 3.5 cases per 1,000 person-years among male submariners, identifying age upon entry and time in submarine duty as risk factors.