NOISE-INDUCED HEARING-LOSS - A POSSIBLE MARKER FOR HIGH BLOOD-PRESSURE IN OLDER NOISE-EXPOSED POPULATIONS

  • 1 August 1990
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (8) , 690-697
Abstract
The present study assessed the relationships among occupational noise exposure, noise-induced hearing loss, and high blood pressure. The study population consisted of 245 retired metal assembly workers from Pittsburgh aged 56 to 68 with chronic noise exposure of 30 or more years at .gtoreq. 89 dBA. Results of the audiometric testing indicated 52% of the younger workers (aged 56 to 63) have severe noise-induced hearing loss (.gtoreq. 65 dBA loss at 3, 4, or 6 kHz) and 67% of older workers (ages 64 to 68). Body mass index and alcohol intake were significantly related to systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Among older men, there was a marginally significant increased prevalence of high blood pressure (.gtoreq.90 mm diastolic or taking blood pressure medicine) among those with severe noise-induced hearing loss (P = .05). Moreover, another measure of hearing loss at high frequencies, speech discrimination score in noise (measured in the better ear), referred to as the W-22 MAX score, was also found to be related to the prevalence of high blood pressure in the older (64 to 68) age group (P < .05). Multiple regression analysis revealed W-22 MAX and severe noise-induced hearing loss were independent predictors of hypertension in the older, but not in the younger group of retired workers.