What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Neuroprotection.

Where was this research published?

Published in OTO open on January 1, 2026.

Neuroprotection

Cannabis use tied to higher tinnitus risk in first year

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

OTO open • January 1, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

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AI Summary

This large-scale propensity-score-matched study examined whether cannabis use increases the risk of developing tinnitus (ringing in the ears) among over 92,000 adults. The researchers found that patients with any cannabis-related disorder had a 30% higher risk of developing tinnitus within one year compared to matched controls without cannabis use. More importantly, the risk appeared to scale with severity of use—those with cannabis dependence showed a 55% increased risk, compared to 30% for general use and 42% for cannabis abuse. However, these elevated short-term risks did not persist at longer follow-up periods (5 and 10 years), suggesting the association may be temporary or limited to the initial period after cannabis use begins.

The study controlled for multiple confounding factors including migraine, nicotine use, other substance use, and mood disorders, strengthening the reliability of the findings. The actual tinnitus incidence rates remained relatively low (0.7% at 1 year, climbing to 2.1% by 10 years), meaning that while cannabis users showed elevated risk, the absolute number of people developing tinnitus was modest. These results suggest that cannabis, particularly at higher use intensities, may be a contributing factor to short-term tinnitus development, though the mechanism remains unclear. The researchers called for further investigation into dose-dependent relationships and the biological pathways through which cannabis might influence ear function.

📄 Original Abstract

There are mixed findings regarding the impact of cannabis use on tinnitus, with different patterns of cannabis use potentially influencing risk in varying ways. This study investigates the association between cannabis-related disorders (CRD) and the risk of developing tinnitus. Propensity-score-matched cohort study. TriNetX, a multi-institutional research database. Adult patients (>18 years) with any CRD and no prior ear-related disorders were matched to a control group of patients without any history of CRD. Patients with CRD were stratified by increasing levels of cannabis use intensity based on the ICD-10 codes (use, abuse, or dependence). Propensity score matching controlled for demographic and related clinical variables, including migraine, nicotine and substance use, and mood disorders. The primary outcome was diagnosed tinnitus at 1, 5, and 10 years, analyzed using Cox regression hazard models (hazard ratios (HR), 95% confidence intervals). After matching (n = 92,077 in each group), tinnitus incidence after 1, 5, and 10 years of CRD diagnosis was 0.7%, 1.8%, and 2.1%, respectively. One-year risk was significantly higher among those with any CRD (HR = 1.30, [95% CI: 1.16-1.45]). Compared to control at 1-year of follow-up, effect size was relatively higher among patients diagnosed with cannabis dependence (use: 1.30 [1.11-1.51]; abuse: 1.42 [1.05-1.90]; dependence: 1.55 [1.02-2.37]). There were no significant trends in tinnitus development at 5 and 10 years of follow-up with any CRD. Cannabis use may elevate the short-term risk of tinnitus, especially among those with more severe use. Further investigation should explore a potential dose-dependent relationship and underlying mechanisms.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: OTO open
Published: January 1, 2026
PMID: 42312243
DOI: 10.1002/oto2.70251

Authors (8)

Oluwatobiloba Ayo-Ajibola Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California Los Angeles California USA.
Tyler Jung Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California Los Angeles California USA.
Diego Gonzalves Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California Los Angeles California USA.
Asher C Park Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago Illinois USA.
Matthew E Lin Department of Head and Neck Surgery University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles California USA.
+3 more authors