{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,10]],"date-time":"2026-07-10T11:14:32Z","timestamp":1783682072539,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,10]],"date-time":"2026-07-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783641600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Audiology Research"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Tinnitus is a significant global health concern with substantial geographic variation in prevalence. However, data on tinnitus epidemiology in southern Saudi Arabia remain limited, despite emerging evidence suggesting a relatively high regional burden. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of tinnitus and identify its epidemiological determinants among adults in southern Saudi Arabia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 501 adults from four regions in southern Saudi Arabia (Jazan, Aseer, Najran, and Al-Baha). Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, chronic medical conditions, noise exposure patterns, and clinical features of tinnitus. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with tinnitus. Results: The overall tinnitus prevalence was 31.1% (156\/501). The mean age of participants was 30 \u00b1 11 years, and 61.7% were female. Bilateral tinnitus was the most common (47.4%). Symptom duration was reported as &lt;3 months in 31.4% of cases and between 3 months and 1 year in another 31.4%. The mean severity score was 3.7 \u00b1 1.9. Most affected individuals (76.9%) did not seek medical care. Primary exacerbating factors included sleep deprivation (41.7%), noise exposure (41.0%), and stress (39.1%). Multivariable analysis identified two significant independent predictors: weekly noise exposure exceeding 5 h (odds ratio [OR] = 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34\u20133.42; p = 0.001) and higher body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02\u20131.10; p = 0.005). The most commonly associated underlying conditions were ear infections (25.6%) and hearing loss (24.4%). Conclusions: Tinnitus prevalence in southern Saudi Arabia (31.1%) substantially exceeds global estimates. Noise exposure and elevated BMI are key modifiable factors associated with tinnitus. The substantial healthcare gap, with most affected individuals not seeking treatment, represents a critical public health challenge requiring targeted prevention programs, provider education, and improved access to evidence-based care.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/audiolres16040101","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,10]],"date-time":"2026-07-10T09:46:47Z","timestamp":1783676807000},"page":"101","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Prevalence and Epidemiological Determinants of Tinnitus in the Southern Region of Saudi Arabia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-6233-5287","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abdulrahman Ali","family":"Otaif","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Musleh Hussain","family":"Mubarki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Department, Samtah General Hospital, Jazan Region, Jazan 86735, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Khalid Talat","family":"Ardi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Aseer Central Hospital, Abha 62523, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-6365-8722","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abdulelah A.","family":"Otaif","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-2333-2876","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dhiyaa A. H.","family":"Otayf","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-4123-4863","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ghala S. Al","family":"Ahmari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-0352-7815","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Danah M.","family":"Al Mutib","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Razan M.","family":"Althumali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Taif University, Taif 26571, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tif A.","family":"Jawahi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-6680-7378","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Najla M. Al","family":"Yami","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Najran University, Najran 66251, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abdullah M.","family":"Algarni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dentistry, Al Baha University, Al Baha 65779, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"888","DOI":"10.1001\/jamaneurol.2022.2189","article-title":"Global prevalence and incidence of tinnitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"79","author":"Jarach","year":"2022","journal-title":"JAMA Neurol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"760","DOI":"10.3390\/audiolres14050064","article-title":"Tinnitus prevalence, associated characteristics, and treatment patterns among adults in Saudi Arabia","volume":"14","author":"Alanazi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Audiol. 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