Authors' objectives: To determine if there is any evidence on the (causal) association on the development of tinnitus post COVID-19 (mRNA) vaccination.

Authors' results and conclusions: There were fifteen relevant primary studies identified from this literature search including manual searches and are summarized in Table 1 (found in full text paper). Ten articles on tinnitus were retrieved and of these ten articles, one systematic review and meta-analysis on the global prevalence and incidence of tinnitus provided recent data that also covered the other eight primary studies retrieved. The data on tinnitus in Canada will be presented separately. In an attempt to understand causal association investigation between a potential adverse event and the preceding vaccination, twelve relevant publications, including work from the WHO, the US CDC, PHAC and Brighton Collaboration, were identified and retrieved in full. However, in discussing any potential causal association, we rely heavily on the documentation that was developed by the WHO which is also largely adopted by other countries such as Canada and the United States (outlined in full text). At present, there is no evidence on the causal association of developing tinnitus post COVID-19 vaccination, especially from the mRNA vaccine types, at the population level. Given the lack of causal association evidence at the population level, the relatively high prevalence of tinnitus in the population and the numerous factors that may affect the development of tinnitus, the available data, at present may not support any causal association on the development of tinnitus post COVID-19 vaccination at the individual level.

Authors' recommendations: There were fifteen relevant primary studies identified from this literature search including manual searches and are summarized in Table 1 (found in full text paper). Ten articles on tinnitus were retrieved and of these ten articles, one systematic review and meta-analysis on the global prevalence and incidence of tinnitus provided recent data that also covered the other eight primary studies retrieved. The data on tinnitus in Canada will be presented separately. In an attempt to understand causal association investigation between a potential adverse event and the preceding vaccination, twelve relevant publications, including work from the WHO, the US CDC, PHAC and Brighton Collaboration, were identified and retrieved in full. However, in discussing any potential causal association, we rely heavily on the documentation that was developed by the WHO which is also largely adopted by other countries such as Canada and the United States (outlined in full text). At present, there is no evidence on the causal association of developing tinnitus post COVID-19 vaccination, especially from the mRNA vaccine types, at the population level. Given the lack of causal association evidence at the population level, the relatively high prevalence of tinnitus in the population and the numerous factors that may affect the development of tinnitus, the available data, at present may not support any causal association on the development of tinnitus post COVID-19 vaccination at the individual level.

Authors' methods: A comprehensive and systematic literature search was done on commercial medical literature databases on August 17, 2022. No limitations, such as on the language of publication, were implemented in any of these searches. Manual searches were also conducted on the references of the articles that were retrieved in full. In order to understand how causality was assessed in vaccine associated adverse events, we also searched the websites of the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) as well as the Brighton Collaboration. We also searched for potential reported tinnitus adverse event data in these websites. We also, non-systematically, searched for data on the incidence-prevalence of tinnitus in the general population.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/research-services/evidence-based-medicine-and-systematic-reviews

Year Published: 2022

URL for published report: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/health-care-providers/guides/tinnitus-covid19-vaccine?lang=en&origin=s&returnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.worksafebc.com%2Fen%2Fforms-resources%23sort%3DDate%26q%3DTinnitus%2520and%2520the%2520COVID-19%2520Vaccine%26tags%3DGuide%7C2d7eb4b30f6a4a319e0d40565c9abbab%2CHealth%2520Care%2520Provider%7C13468b0b3f074f6bade3f57ac3cdfb8e%2CSystematic%2520Review%7Cf78c29d570c14ec3b5a394385905df70&highlight=Tinnitus%20and%20the%20COVID-19%20Vaccine

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Mini HTA

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: WorkSafeBC

Contact Address: 6591 Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC, V7C 1C6 Canada. Tel: 604-231-8417; Fax: 604-279-7698

Contact Name: ebpg@worksafebc.com

Contact Email: ebpg@worksafebc.com

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