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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Noise exposure and hypertension: investigation of a silent relationship

Authors: Tatiana Cristina Fernandes de Souza, André Reynaldo Santos Périssé, Marisa Moura

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Noise is an important occupational hazard worldwide and hypertension a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is currently the greatest cause of disability retirement worldwide. The association between noise exposure and auditory effects is well documented in the biomedical literature, but the same is not true about exposure to different levels of noise and extra-auditory effects. It has been shown that noise exposure levels to be considered for non-auditory effects may not be the same as in the case of auditory effects. The frequent presence of noise in workplace environments, the high prevalence of hypertension worldwide, the biological plausibility of the association between noise exposure and high blood pressure and the need for more studies investigating the non-auditory effects of exposures to less than 85 dB(A), were the reasons that led us to develop this study. We aimed at investigating the hypothesis that exposure to different levels of noise is associated with hypertension.

Methods

We used a cross-sectional design to study the association between occupational noise exposure (≤75, 75–85, and ≥ 85 dB(A)) and hypertension (use of anti-hypertensive medication and/or blood pressure of ≥140/90 mmHg) in 1,729 petrochemical workers at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data were collected from obligatory annual health evaluation records and from environmental measurements of noise and heat levels. We used logistical regression analysis to study the association while controlling for key confounding variables, such as smoking and body mass index.

Results

Using the ≤75 dB(A) as reference category, noise exposure was independently associated to hypertension both at the 75–85 dB(A) (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.13–2.17) and the ≥85 dB(A) levels (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.10–2.26). Age, gender and body mass index were also independently associated to high blood pressure.

Conclusion

Herein, we were able to demonstrate that noise exposure is independently associated to hypertension. Our results are consistent with other studies that used similar methodology and enabled us to verify the occurrence of non-auditory effects in workers exposed to noise levels considered safe for auditory effects.
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Metadata
Title
Noise exposure and hypertension: investigation of a silent relationship
Authors
Tatiana Cristina Fernandes de Souza
André Reynaldo Santos Périssé
Marisa Moura
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1671-z

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