High-frequency hearing loss, occupational noise exposure and hypertension: a cross-sectional study in male workers.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The association between occupational noise exposure and hypertension is inconsistent because of an exposure bias caused by outer-ear measurements of noise levels among workers. This study used hearing loss values (HLVs) measured at 4 kHz and 6 kHz in both ears as a biomarker to investigate the chronic effects of noise exposure on hypertension in 790 aircraft-manufacturing workers.

METHODS:

Participants were divided into a high hearing loss (HL) group (n = 214; average HLVs ≥ 30 decibel [dB] at 4 kHz or 6 kHz bilaterally; 83.1 ± 4.9 A-weighted decibel [dBA]), a median HL group (n = 302; 15 ≤ average HLVs < 30 dB at 4 kHz or 6 kHz bilaterally; 83.1 ± 4.4 dBA) and a low HL group (n = 274; average HLVs < 15 dB at 4 kHz or 6 kHz bilaterally; 82.2 ± 5.1 dBA) based on the results of pure tone audiometry. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to estimate the risk of hypertension between groups.

RESULTS:

The prevalence rates of hypertension were significantly higher in the high HL (43.5%; p = 0.021) and median HL (42.1%; p = 0.029) groups than in the low HL group (33.2%). The high HL and median HL workers had 1.48-fold (95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.02-2.15; p = 0.040) and 1.46-fold (95%CI = 1.03-2.05; p = 0.031) higher risks of hypertension relative to the low HL workers. Employment duration was significantly and positively correlated with the risk of hypertension among workers with average HLVs ≥ 15 dB at 4 kHz (p < 0.001) and 6 kHz (p < 0.001) bilaterally.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings suggest that high-frequency hearing loss is a good biomarker of occupational noise exposure and that noise-induced hearing loss may be associated with the risk of hypertension.

• Authors: Ta-Yuan Chang, Chiu-Shong Liu, Kuei-Hung Huang, Ren-Yin Chen, Jim-Shoung Lai, Bo-Ying Bao
• Journal: Environmental health : a global access science source (Environ Health) Vol. 10 Pg. 35 (Apr 25 2011) ISSN: 1476-069X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21518430 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers

Topics

• Aircraft
• Biomarkers
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Hearing Loss, High-Frequency (epidemiology, etiology)
• Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced (epidemiology, etiology)
• Humans
• Hypertension (epidemiology, etiology)
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Noise, Occupational (adverse effects)
• Occupational Diseases (epidemiology, etiology)
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects)
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• Taiwan