Introduction Patients with pulsatile tinnitus (PT) can have potentially devastating psychological impact, which effect how best to treat these patients, many options which include endovascular treatment.

Aim of Study Objectives of this study include quantifying the prevalence of depression and anxiety in the United States PT population as well as identifying demographic risks associated with effects of PT on depression and anxiety.

Methods Subjects were recruited from online PT groups. Questionnaires utilizing the validated Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) were combined with demographic questions in a secure online survey. In addition, the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaires were used to obtain the prevalence of concurrent depression and anxiety, respectively. Results were collected over a 5-month period.

Results A total of 515 surveys were included (84% female, 65% unemployed, mean(sd) age was 46.4 years (14.2)). Median (IQR) symptom duration was 1.9 (0.56, 4.8) years. Survey data showed 46% and 37% of subjects with moderate to severe depression and anxiety, respectively. Higher TFI scores were associated with moderate to severe depression (OR 1.07; 95%CI 1.06–1.09, p<0.001) and anxiety (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04–1.06, p<0.001), with TFI subscores also independently being associated in a univariate analysis.

Conclusion The prevalence of moderate to severe depression and anxiety in the PT population, which was previously unknown, is estimated in our study to be 46% and 37%, respectively. Furthermore, increasing TFI total score was significantly associated with increased depression and anxiety scales adding further evidence of the impact of PT on the psychological health of these patients.

Disclosure of Interest Nothing to disclose