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Relationship between occupational noise exposure and hypertension: A cross‐sectional study in steel factories
Author(s) -
Zhou Fan,
Shrestha Ankita,
Mai Shiqi,
Tao Zhimin,
Li Jiahui,
Wang Zhi,
Meng Xiaojing
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.23034
Subject(s) - medicine , confidence interval , blood pressure , odds ratio , cross sectional study , logistic regression , hearing loss , noise exposure , industrial noise , cardiology , audiology , pathology
Background Hazardous exposure to occupational noise may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension. This study was performed to assess the relationship between noise exposure and hypertension prevalence in steelworkers. Methods A cross‐sectional survey using self‐reported noise exposure and audiometrically measured hearing loss was performed. One thousand eight hundred and seventy‐four workers were interviewed. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios for hypertension by noise exposure. Linear regression analysis was used to test associations between noise exposure and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Results Occupational noise‐exposed subjects had significantly higher blood pressure levels than nonexposed subjects (SBP: 123.18 ± (standard deviation) 12.44 vs 119.80 ± 12.50 mm Hg; DBP: 77.86 ± 9.34 vs 75.49 ± 8.73 mmHg). The prevalence of hypertension was approximately 5% in the control group without noise exposure or hearing impairment and increased from 6% to 21% across the range of increasing degree of hearing loss and, separately, of cumulative exposure time. Noise exposure (any) was associated with an increase in the prevalence of hypertension (odds ratio, 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15‐3.58). Noise‐induced hearing loss and cumulative noise exposure time were positively correlated with BP (hearing loss: SBP: β = .09, 95% CI: 0.04‐0.15 mm Hg, DBP: β = .11, 95% CI: 0.06‐0.17 mm Hg; cumulative exposure time: SBP: β = .10, 95% CI: 0.04‐0.15 mm Hg, DBP: β = .09, 95% CI: 0.04‐0.15 mm Hg). Conclusions Noise exposure measured in two different ways was strongly associated with the prevalence of hypertension in steelworkers. Reducing noise in the steel factory could be a way of decreasing the risk of hypertension in this population.