Influence of tinnitus on pain severity and quality of life in patients with temporomandibular disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the relationship among pain intensity and duration, presence of tinnitus and quality of life in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMD).


METHODS
Fifty-nine female patients presenting with chronic TMD were selected from those seeking for treatment at the Bauru School of Dentistry Orofacial Pain Center. Patients were submitted to the Research Diagnostic Criteria anamnesis and physical examination. Visual analog scale was used to evaluate the pain intensity while pain duration was assessed by interview. Oral Health Impact Profile inventory modified for patients with orofacial pain was used to evaluate the patients' quality of life. The presence of tinnitus was assessed by self report. The patients were divided into: with or without self report of tinnitus. The data were analyzed statistically using the Student's t-test and Pearson's Chi-square test, with a level of significance of 5%.


RESULTS
The mean age for the sample was 35.25 years, without statistically significant difference between groups. Thirty-two patients (54.24%) reported the presence of tinnitus. The mean pain intensity by visual analog scale was 77.10 and 73.74 for the groups with and without tinnitus, respectively. The mean pain duration was 76.12 months and 65.11 months for the groups with and without tinnitus, respectively. The mean OHIP score was 11.72 and 11.74 for the groups with and without tinnitus, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for pain intensity, pain duration and OHIP scoreS (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic TMD pain seems to play a more significant role in patient 's quality of life than the presence of tinnitus.
Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil. patriciascalderon@yahoo.com.br
Patrícia dos Santos
Pdos S
Calderon
Priscila Brenner
PB
Hilgenberg
Leylha Maria Nunes
LM
Rossetti
João Vítor El Hetti
JV
Laurenti
Paulo César Rodrigues
PC
Conti
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*