OCCUPATIONAL NOISE EXPOSURE, NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS, AND THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Abstract

The role of noise exposure in the etiology of high blood pressure is unclear. A cross-sectional study of occupational noise exposure and high blood pressure was conducted in March 1981–August 1982 in a group of blue-collar workers from a noisy (≥89 dBA) and a less noisy plant (p < 0.02). Multiple regression analysis revealed that in the noisier plant, body mass index, severe noise-induced hearing loss, and noisy hobbies explained a significant amount of the variation in diastolic pressure (p R² = 0.19. This suggests that there may be a population at increased risk for hearing loss and high blood pressure.