An investigation of tinnitus, noise sensitivity and anxiety levels in liver transplantation patients in the early and late periods: A cross-sectional study

This study aims to evaluate the perception of anxiety, tinnitus, and noise sensitivity in liver transplant patients according to early and late periods following transplantation. The study included 76 patients with liver transplantation. They were divided into two groups according to the duration of time after transplantation: early (1-3 years) and late (5 years or more). A demographic data form, the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Weinstein's Noise Sensitivity Scale (WNSS), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were administered and used for data collection. There was a statistically significant difference between the early and late-period groups in terms of WNSS and THI scores (p<0.05), whereas there was no statistically significant difference in BAI scores (p>0.05). Noise sensitivity and tinnitus perception of the late-period group were statistically higher than those of the early-period group (p<0.05). Correlations between BAI, WNSS, and THI scores of late-stage patients were significant (p<0.05). A multivariate regression model was performed with the WNSS and the THI as dependent variables. According to this analysis, the THI had a statistically significant positive effect on the BAI in the early period (p2=0.003) and WNSS had a statistically significant positive effect on the BAI score in the late period (p2=0.002). Both otologic and psychological effects are observed in patients with liver transplantation. The post-transplant period triggered otologic symptoms more. It is also noteworthy that psychological and otologic symptoms are in correlation. Psychological and otologic evaluations with a multidisciplinary approach should gain importance in the post-transplant period.