Noise & Health最新文献

Background: Long-term noise annoyance can be expected to have worse outcomes than short-term annoyance. This study investigates noise annoyance over time, its association with personality traits and potential reciprocal effects between health outcomes and noise annoyance.

Methods: Firstly, we conducted a Longitudinal Latent Class Analysis to identify noise annoyance profiles. We further analysed the effect of Big Five personality traits on the likelihood of belonging to these annoyance profiles. Secondly, we used Cross-lagged Panel Models to analyse whether changes in noise annoyance precede changes in health outcomes or vice versa. For both analyses, we used 8 years of data from the Dutch Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences (LISS) panel. Between 2708 and 11,068 subjects were included (this varies between models).

Results: We found three profiles of noise annoyance, namely, chronically, occasionally and never annoyed. Among all participants, 12% were chronically annoyed by neighbour noise and 6% by street noise. Extraversion and emotional stability decreased the chance of belonging to the cluster of chronically annoyed, while openness had the opposite effect. Chronic noise annoyance showed a significant effect on self-reported heart complaints and sleeping problems, while the effects of noise annoyance profiles on high blood pressure and heart attacks were insignificant. Some potential indications for a reverse effect from health outcomes on noise annoyance were found.

Conclusion: Noise annoyance was relatively stable over time possibly because of its correlation with personality traits. Noise had a small negative effect on health outcomes, and some health outcomes affected noise annoyance. Further research should be conducted to collect dedicated panel data.

Background: Nightclubs expose nearly 40% of young adults in high- and middle-income countries to damaging levels of noise with attendant risk of noise-damage hearing symptoms and sequelae of mood disorders, social isolation and dementia. This study evaluated clubbers hearing symptoms, visiting behaviours and safe listening habits.

Material and methods: A web-based, population-specific data collection tool was shown to visitors of the dance music website Resident Advisor over a 7-hour period. It identified how often and for how long clubbers attend loud music venues (as this will influence their safe-noise dose) alongside their attitudes, use of safer listening practices and whether their visit frequency changed with the presence of hearing symptoms. For analysis, we used descriptive statistics, Chi-squared test, Fisher exact test and logistic regression analysis.

Results: We collected 1020 (29.0%) responses from 3516 data collection tool invites. Key findings are as follows: 73.4% (n = 749) of respondents had permanent ear symptoms ('sometimes', 'often' or 'always'). Respondents attended loud music venues 1-5 times per month (78.5%, n = 801) for a duration of 5-6 hours a visit (41.1%, n = 419) on average. When in loud venues, 32.3% wore earplugs, 38.5% took regular listening breaks, 5.9% checked the noise level, 45.4% moved to a quieter spot and 13.2% had a hearing test in the last year. Two-thirds and one-half of those with no or temporary hearing symptoms, respectively, would attend music venues less often if they were to develop symptoms or if symptoms were to worsen.

Conclusions: Based on our visit data, the average music venue patron has some degree of permanent hearing-damage symptoms and should be aware that they are very likely to exceed their safe-noise dose (and risk irreversible hearing damage) even in venues adhering to the World Health Organization standard for safe listening loudness.

Background: Noise pollution is a significant occupational hazard for heavy-vehicle drivers. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hearing loss, specifically noise-induced hearing loss, among truck drivers.

Methods: A total of 200 long-distance truck drivers based in Lucknow City were selected for this study. Pure tone audiometry was used to measure air conduction thresholds in each ear at frequencies ranging from 250 to 8000 Hz. The association of risk factors, such as sleep duration, work experience, age, alcohol drinking, and diabetes, with the prevalence of hearing loss among truck drivers was examined. Participants completed a structured questionnaire addressing hearing health and noise exposure. Data were analyzed using Python software, employing statistical tests such as the chi-square test, rank-sum test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: Based on the World Health Organization guideline, the overall prevalence of hearing loss among 200 drivers was 50.5% in their better ear, with a higher hearing loss rate in the right ear (73.5%) than in the left ear (59.5%). The average hearing thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz of the drivers' right and left ears were 32.61 ± 9.85 and 28.66 ± 8.88 dB, respectively. The audiometric analysis identified key risk factors for hearing loss, including shorter sleep duration (≤6 h), extended work experience (>10 years), older age (>40 years), and alcohol drinking, which were further confirmed as significant predictors through multivariate logistic analysis.

Conclusion: Hearing loss is highly prevalent among truck drivers, with the right ear being more affected. The study underscores the need for regular hearing assessments and protective measures to mitigate hearing impairment risks.

Purpose: Noise levels may have an impact on the level of fear and anxiety in hospitalized children, which, in turn, may affect the effectiveness of treatment. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the impact of noise levels on medical anxiety in hospitalized children with pneumonia.

Methods: Children hospitalized for pneumonia in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2023 were consecutively enrolled in this study. They were divided into high- and low-noise groups according to the environmental noise level, using 60 dB as a threshold value. Demographic, clinical, and psychological data were collected from medical records and patient assessments. Statistical analyses, including post-hoc analysis, were performed to conduct relevant research.

Results: A total of 106 patients, including 66 patients with low noise and 40 patients with high noise, were included. Results revealed that children in the high-noise group exhibited significantly higher scores on the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire compared to those in the low-noise group (32.56 ± 7.14 vs. 29.18 ± 6.25, t = 2.557, P = 0.012), as well as higher scores on the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) behavioral pain scale (2.34 ± 0.96 vs. 2.01 ± 0.67, t = 2.081, P = 0.040), indicating higher levels of medical anxiety and pain perception in the high-noise group.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that noise levels in the hospital environment have a substantial impact on the fears and perceptions of hospitalized children with pneumonia. High-noise levels were associated with increased medical anxiety and pain perception in pediatric patients.

Background: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in children is a growing public health concern due to increased exposure to high noise levels in various environments. Early intervention is crucial to prevent long-term developmental and social impacts. This study evaluates the effectiveness of earmuffs as a protective intervention in managing NIHL in children.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted involving 120 paediatric patients aged 5-12 years diagnosed with NIHL. Patients were divided into an intervention group (n = 60), who received standard treatment plus earmuffs, and a control group (n = 60), who received standard treatment only. Pure-tone audiometry tests were used to assess hearing thresholds at baseline and post-intervention. Family satisfaction was also assessed using a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: Hearing thresholds substantially improved in the intervention group compared with those in the control group. After the intervention, hearing thresholds in the intervention group reduced by 7.31 decibels (dB) at 500 Hertz (Hz), 6.73 dB at 1000 Hz, 6.66 dB at 2000 Hz and 6.92 dB at 4000 Hz (P < 0.05). In the control group, reductions were 3.74, 3.72, 3.64 and 3.80 dB, respectively (P < 0.05). Family satisfaction was significantly higher in the intervention group, with 91.7% expressing satisfaction, compared with 65.0% in the control group (P = 0.030).

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of earmuffs in preventing NIHL in children, showing improvements in hearing thresholds and increased family satisfaction. These findings suggest that earmuffs could be beneficial as part of standard preventive measures for paediatric patients exposed to high noise levels and highlight their potential practical and clinical value.

Objective: In this study, the research team aimed to explore the therapeutic effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), its influence on patient prognosis, and its impact on hearing to provide valuable clinical evidence.

Methods: Ninety-four patients with NIHL admitted to The First People's Hospital of Changde City, Hunan, China, from May 2021 to January 2023 were selected for this retrospective analysis. Among them, 43 were given conventional treatment (control group) and 51 were given HBOT (observation group). The clinical efficacy, symptom improvement, and pure-tone hearing thresholds (PTHTs) at different frequencies were detected. All cases were followed up for 12 months to record the NIHL recurrence rates and hearing (hearing threshold), and their quality of life was investigated.

Results: The observation group had higher total effective rate and excellent rate and lower incidence of insomnia, tinnitus, and other symptoms than the control group (P < 0.05). PTHTs were lower in the observation group than in the control group at different frequencies (P < 0.05). Follow-up analysis showed no notable intergroup difference in the NHL recurrence rate (P > 0.05), but the hearing threshold was lower and the quality of life was better in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Compared to conventional treatment, HBOT is effective in treating NIHL and can improve the hearing and coagulation function of patients and provide a reliable guarantee for their prognostic health.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the levels and sources of noise in the emergency intensive care unit (EICU) of an emergency department and investigate their effects on the sleep quality of conscious patients.

Methods: A study was conducted on patients admitted to the EICU from December 2020 to December 2023. They were categorised according to their sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Environmental noise levels were measured using precision sound level metres and environmental noise automatic monitoring instruments. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0, and Chi-square test, Fisher's exact probability and t-tests were conducted when applicable. The significance threshold was set at P < 0.05. Regression analysis was carried out for indicators with significant differences.

Results: A total of 200 patients were included in the study. Of them 96 in the ideal sleep group and 104 in the non-ideal sleep group. Patients with non-ideal sleep experienced significantly higher noise levels across various measures (P < 0.05). Additionally, patients with non-ideal sleep reported significantly higher occurrences of noise-related awakening, difficulty in falling asleep, nightmares or vivid dreams and sleepwalking episodes (P < 0.05). Significant differences in staff activities, including staff conversations, equipment noise exposure, cleaning activities, patient interventions and overhead pages, were observed between the groups (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicating that the average noise level, conversational speech, equipment alarms, ambient noise, peak noise levels, staff conversations, cleaning activities, patient interventions and overhead pages were significant contributors to poor sleep.

Conclusion: The study suggested that high noise levels and staff-related activities affected the sleep quality of conscious patients in the EICU. Targeted measures could improve the prognoses of patients.

Background/objectives: Noise remains an under-discussed type of environmental pollutant, which exerts a wide range of adverse health effects, both auditory and non-auditory. Ensuring that the public has ready access to useful health information online about noise exposure is important. In this regard, evaluating the content of public news articles regarding noise pollution is vital. Although examining the content available to the public on this topic is significant, there is still a dearth of information on this topic. Consequently, this study aimed to analyze the content on Google News regarding noise pollution.

Methods: Google News was searched using the term "noise pollution," and 100 articles were shortlisted for further coding. Qualitative coding was based on the news source, the type of domain extension, and whether a video was included in the article. The articles were quantitatively coded based on their content and compared for length.

Results: The three most common content areas were as follows: types of noise pollution (73%), sources of noise (63%), and responses by administrative offices (59%). Only 17% of the news articles alluded to health issues linked to noise pollution, such as sleep disturbances, anxiety, high blood pressure, and effects on children's auditory skills, that is speech development, concentration, and memory retention. Scientific research findings related to noise pollution were incorporated in less than one-third of the articles. The news articles were of comparable length.

Conclusion: This study not only contributes to a better understanding of the news provided to the public and how noise pollution issues are discussed in contemporary, mainstream media, but also can inform about public health initiatives. We recommend that scientific/healthcare communities collaborate with online news media to improve the coverage regarding-and underscore the scientific evidence of-the deleterious consequences of noise on human and animal health.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the relationship between noise kurtosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk while exploring the potential of kurtosis assessment in evaluating CVD risk associated with complex noise exposure in coal mines.

Methods: This cross-sectional study started in April 2021 and ended in November 2022. It involved 705 coal miners selected from 1045 participants. The participants underwent questionnaire surveys, physical examinations and assessment of individual noise exposure levels in the form of LAeq.8h. Individual CVD risk was evaluated by employing the Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China (China-PAR). Logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the effect of noise kurtosis on the risk of developing CVD and adjust for confounders to determine independent effects. Stratified analyses were applied to examine the effect of different noise characteristics on risk.

Results: In cardiovascular risk assessment using China-PAR, 637 and 68 individuals were classified as low and high risk, respectively. Notably, the group exposed to noise levels of 85-100 dB(A) exhibited a significantly higher risk than those exposed to noise levels of <85 dB(A). Regarding kurtosis (β), individuals with β < 3 had low cardiovascular risk, whereas those with β > 5 had high risk, with risk increasing alongside kurtosis. Correlation analysis indicated a strong association amongst noise kurtosis, cumulative noise exposure (CNE) and CVD risk after accounting for individual age and service duration. Logistic regression analysis identified kurtosis as the primary influencing factor for CVD risk (odds ratio = 3.46, 95% confidence interval: 1.68-7.13).

Conclusions: Given the pervasive presence of complex noise in the coal mining industry, kurtosis can serve as a valuable supplementary parameter for adjusting CNE, thus facilitating the assessment of CVD risk associated with complex noise exposure in coal mines.