Objective:
Tinnitus is a prevalent otologic symptom with a multifactorial etiology. Systemic inflammation and microvascular dysfunction have been proposed as key contributors to its pathophysiology. Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent low-grade inflammation and vascular impairment, may adversely affect the auditory system. This study aimed to evaluate and compare complete blood count (CBC)–derived inflammatory markers in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with subjective tinnitus and concomitant allergic rhinitis.
Methods:
This retrospective study included 230 patients presenting with subjective tinnitus, normal hearing thresholds, and allergic rhinitis. The patients were divided into two groups according to diabetes status: diabetic tinnitus (DM-T, n=115) and non-diabetic tinnitus (Non-DM-T, n=115). Demographic characteristics and laboratory data were obtained from medical records. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), and pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) were calculated for each patient. The groups were compared using appropriate statistical analyses.
Results:
Age and sex distributions were comparable between the groups. Comparative analyses demonstrated that NLR, SII, and PIV values were significantly lower in the DM-T group than in the Non-DM-T group (p=0.007, p=0.003, and p=0.004, respectively). No significant differences were observed in LMR (p=0.380) or SIRI (p=0.093). These findings suggest a distinct inflammatory marker profile in diabetic patients with tinnitus.
Conclusion:
Diabetes mellitus appears to modulate systemic inflammatory responses in patients with tinnitus and allergic rhinitis, resulting in lower levels of certain composite inflammatory indices. CBC-derived markers such as NLR, SII, and PIV may serve as practical and accessible indicators of the interaction between metabolic disease and tinnitus-related inflammation. Prospective studies incorporating tinnitus severity scales and detailed metabolic parameters are warranted to clarify the clinical implications of these findings.
Tinnitus Diabetes Mellitus Allergic Rhinitis Inflammation Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index Pan-Immune-Inflammation Value
Ethics Statement This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of Sağlık Bilimleri University Elazığ Fethi Sekin Training and Research Hospital (Approval Date 22/05/2025 No: 2025/10-10).
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| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Allergy |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Submission Date | February 28, 2026 |
| Acceptance Date | March 7, 2026 |
| Publication Date | March 26, 2026 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.65396/ejra.1899714 |
| IZ | https://izlik.org/JA62AT68DF |
| Published in Issue | Year 2026 Volume: 9 Issue: 1 |
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