Association Between Cannabis Use and Tinnitus: A Multi-Center Propensity-Score-Matched Cohort Study

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

11:12 AM - 11:18 AM EDT

Location: 239

Disclosure(s):

Tyler C. Jung, BS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Matthew E. Lin, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: The association between cannabis use on the risk of developing tinnitus remains unclear. This study investigates the short- and long-term risk of tinnitus among adults with varying levels of cannabis use.

Methods: TriNetX, a multi-institutional healthcare database, was queried for patients (≥18 years) with any cannabis-related disorder (CRD) and no prior auditory disorders, and were matched with a control of patients without any CRD or auditory disorders. Patients with CRD were stratified by levels of cannabis usage (use, abuse, or dependence). Propensity score matching was performed using a 1:1 nearest neighbor approach, controlling for demographic and clinical variables related to tinnitus. The primary outcome was a new tinnitus diagnosis (ICD H93.1) within 1 and 5 years of CRD diagnosis. Risk ratios (RR) were calculated using Poisson regression.

Results: Overall, the incidences of tinnitus after 1 and 5 years after diagnosis of CRD were 0.7% and 1.6%, respectively. After propensity score matching (n=87,750 in each group), tinnitus risk after 1 year was significantly higher among CRD than control group (RR=1.15, 95%CI: 1.03-1.30). In contrast, there was no significant risk increase for tinnitus after 5 years between CRD and control groups (RR=1.07, 95%CI: 0.97-1.17 ). At 1 year of follow-up, patients diagnosed with cannabis dependence, representing highest use frequency among CRD patients, were found to have higher effect size of tinnitus risk (RR=1.63, 95%CI:1.01-2.63) while the effect size was relatively lower for cannabis use group representing lower frequency of cannabis use (RR=1.18, 95%CI: 1.00-1.40) when compared to the control group. There was no increased risks of tinnitus diagnosis after 5 years among all subgroups of CRD including cannabis use, abuse, and dependence.

Conclusions: Cannabis use may elevate short-term risk, especially among dependent users. Further research should explore dose, duration, and biological mechanisms underlying these divergent outcomes.

Presenting Author(s)

TJ

Tyler C. Jung, BS

Medical Student
Keck School of Medicine
West Hills, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

OA

Oluwatobiloba O. Ayo-Ajibola, BS

Medical Student
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Los Angeles, CA, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
DG

Diego Gonzalves, Other

Medical Student
Keck School of Medicine, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Co-Author(s)

AP

Asher C. Park, Other

Medical Student
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Matthew E. Lin, MD

Resident Physician
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Los Angeles, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Senior Author(s)

Janet S. Choi, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor
Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Los Angeles, California, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.