scholarly journals Noise-induced Hearing Loss and Hypertension Among Occupational Noise-exposed Workers: a Pilot Study Based on Baseline Data

Author(s):  
Long Miao ◽  
Juan Zhang ◽  
Lihong Yin ◽  
Yuepu Pu

Abstract Background: Noise is a widespread occupational hazardous factor affecting the health of workers in occupational health field. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and hypertension are the important biological adverse effects caused by occupational noise exposure. This study aimed to determine the binaural high frequency (3, 4, and 6 kHz) threshold on average (BHFTA) and levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), to assess the prevalence of NIHL and hypertension and determine the factors influencing the risk of both, and to evaluate the association between NIHL and hypertension among occupational noise-exposed workers. Methods: Questionnaire and occupational health checkup were performed to collect the personal information and physical examination data. Finally, baseline data from 42,588 occupational noise-exposed workers were analyzed. Noise intensity in the workplaces was measured using sound level meter. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) was measured at 3, 4 and 6 kHz using diagnostic audiometer. Moreover, blood pressure level was measured using automated sphygmomanometer. Results: The mean levels of BHFTA, SBP, and DBP were 23.09 ± 11.32 dB, 126.85 ± 15.94 mm Hg, 79.94 ± 11.61 mm Hg. Of the 42,588 subjects, the prevalence of NIHL and hypertension were 24.38% (n = 10,383) and 25.40% (n = 10,816). The results suggested that higher risk of NIHL and hypertension were more likely to be the subgroups of male gender, aged > 35 years, noise exposure time > 5 years, noise exposure level > 85 dB (A) and smoking. The BHFTA, SBP, and DBP levels increased with the age, noise exposure time and exposure level (Ptrend < 0.001). Besides, similar trends were also observed in the prevalence of NIHL and hypertension. Furthermore, there was a significant association of NIHL with hypertension. We found that 32.25% (n = 3,348) workers with NIHL had hypertension. The mean levels of SBP and DBP in NIHL workers were significantly higher than those with normal hearing (P < 0.001). Besides, workers with NIHL had a significantly higher risk of developing hypertension than normal hearing workers (adjusted OR = 1.07, 95%CI = 1.02-1.13). Conclusion: Our current findings suggest that the prevalence of NIHL and hypertension are high in the studied workers and occupational noise exposure is an important factor. Therefore, it is urgent to reduce noise exposure in the workplaces and to strengthen industrial noise monitoring.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Long Miao ◽  
Lihong Yin ◽  
Yuepu Pu

Abstract The present study aimed to determine the current levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and binaural high frequency (3, 4, and 6 kHz) threshold on average (BHFTA), to assess the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and hypertension and determine the factors influencing the risk of both, and to evaluate the association between NIHL and hypertension among occupational noise-exposed workers. Questionnaire and occupational health checkup were performed to collect the personal information and physical examination data. Finally, baseline data from 42,588 occupational noise-exposed workers were analyzed. The mean levels of SBP, DBP, and BHFTA were 126.85 ± 15.94 mm Hg, 79.94 ± 11.61 mm Hg and 23.09 ± 11.32 dB, respectively. Of the 42,588 subjects, the prevalence of NIHL and hypertension were 24.38% (n = 10,383) and 25.40% (n = 10,816). The results suggested that higher risk of NIHL and hypertension were more likely to be the groups of male gender, aged > 35 years, exposure time to noise > 5 years, and smoking. The SBP, DBP and BHFTA levels increased with age and noise exposure time (Ptrend < 0.001). Besides, similar trends were also observed in the prevalence of NIHL and hypertension. Furthermore, there was a significant association of NIHL with hypertension. We found that 32.25% (n = 3,348) workers with NIHL had hypertension. The mean levels of SBP and DBP in NIHL workers were significantly higher than those with normal hearing (P < 0.001). In addition, NIHL workers had a significantly higher risk of developing hypertension than normal hearing workers (adjusted OR = 1.08, 95%CI = 1.03–1.14). Our current findings suggest that the prevalence of NIHL and hypertension are high in our study workers and occupational noise exposure is an important factor. Therefore, it is urgent to reduce noise exposure in the workplaces and to strengthen industrial noise monitoring.


1985 ◽  
Vol 121 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELELYN TALBOTT ◽  
JAMES HELMKAMP ◽  
KARAN MATHEWS ◽  
LEWIS KULLER ◽  
ERIC COTTINGTON ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boshen Wang ◽  
Lei Han ◽  
Simin Dai ◽  
Xiuting Li ◽  
Wenyan Cai ◽  
...  

Objectives. This study investigated the hearing loss characteristics among occupational noise exposure workers with hypertension and the link between hypertension and hearing loss when exposed to occupational noise. Methods. A total of 267,766 occupational noise-exposed workers were enrolled, including 29,868 workers with hypertension and 240,165 without hypertension. Hypertension was diagnosed according to WHO criteria. Hypertension was classified into four grades based on blood pressure. Assessment of hearing was performed through measurement of an unadulterated tone threshold at different frequencies, which ranged between 250 and 8,000 Hz. Results. A substantial link was observed to exist between hypertension and the increment in the hearing limit. The increase in the hearing threshold was substantially higher among those having grade 2 hypertension. Conclusion. The current investigation suggested patients with hypertension exhibit a substantial rise in hearing loss in comparison with patients without hypertension. The rise in hearing loss was significant in patients with grade 2 hypertension. Efficient and practicable measures are required to decrease the hearing loss in workers with hypertension and work-related noise exposure.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-24
Author(s):  
Vance Gunnell ◽  
Jeff Larsen

Hearing thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions were measured for teachers of vocal performance who were gathered for a national conference. Results showed mean audiometric thresholds to be consistent with noise induced hearing loss, more than what would be expected with normal aging. Years of instruction and age were considered as factors in the hearing loss observed. It was concluded that hearing conservation should be initiated with this group to help raise awareness and protect them from hearing loss due to occupational noise exposure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 685 (1) ◽  
pp. 012002
Author(s):  
Afiqah Kamaruzzaman ◽  
Tengku Azmina Ibrahim ◽  
Fazrul Razman Sulaiman ◽  
Ismaniza Ismail

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zara Ann Stokholm ◽  
Kent Lodberg Christensen ◽  
Thomas W Frederiksen ◽  
Jesper M Vestergaard ◽  
Åse Marie Hansen ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (02) ◽  
pp. 179-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Meneses-Barriviera ◽  
Luciana Marchiori ◽  
Juliana Melo

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 716-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M Rabinowitz ◽  
Deron Galusha ◽  
Christine Dixon-Ernst ◽  
Jane E Clougherty ◽  
Richard L Neitzel

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ailin Razali

Occupational health practitioners in our country were heartened following the gazettement of the new regulation with regard to occupational noise exposure in alignment with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA 1994) by the Attorney General’s Chamber in early June this year.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document