Noise & Health最新文献

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the applicability and limitations of the equal energy hypothesis (EEH) in assessing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and investigate the role of the kurtosis parameter (reflecting noise temporal structure) in assessing NIHL, providing a basis for refining EEH theory.

Materials and methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to summarize studies related to EEH, systematically collecting its development, validation, and revision suggestions. The weighted mean difference (WMD) and odds ratio (OR) of hearing loss caused by different types of noise were used to evaluate the role of noise kurtosis in the evaluation of NIHL.

Results: A total of 57 articles were included, containing experimental and cross-sectional studies. Evidence showed significant limitations in the EEH when assessing non-steady noise, leading to an underestimation of NIHL under equal energy conditions. Animal experiments verified a critical level for assessing NIHL when using the EEH, with ranges of 90-135 dB in chinchillas and 108-120 dB in guinea pigs. EEH could be revised in the frequency domain (spectrum) and time domain (e.g., kurtosis). Meta-analysis showed that in animal experiments, WMD for permanent threshold shifts (PTSs) at 2, 4, and 8 kHz (PTS at 2, 4, and 8 kHz) was 3.30 dB (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.22-4.37); in population surveys, OR for high-frequency NIHL was 1.78 (95% CI: 1.36-2.32). Logistic regression analysis confirmed kurtosis as a risk factor for NIHL (P < 0.001). Kurtosis adjustment for cumulative noise exposure and equivalent sound level adequately improved the accuracy of hearing loss estimation.

Conclusion: The EEH's limitations in assessing NIHL caused by non-steady noise can be remedied by adjusting noise energy metrics using kurtosis. Our findings suggest that EEH could be revised as an "equal energy and equal kurtosis hypothesis."

Objective: Sleep is a crucial behavioral determinant of physical and psychological well-being. With the rapid urbanization of China, noise pollution has become a growing concern, and its impact on sleep has raised substantial public health attention. This study aims to investigate the potential non-linear relationship between environmental noise and individual sleep duration, and the moderating roles of urban green space and city size.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal analysis using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. City-level noise exposure was quantified using the Baidu Noise Index, a novel approach in this context. Data on urban population and green space coverage were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Fixed-effects regression models were employed to estimate the impact of noise on sleep duration, and moderation analysis was applied to explore the roles of green space and city size.

Results: An inverted U-shaped association was observed between noise levels and sleep duration (linear β = 0.746, P < 0.001; quadratic β = -0.955, P < 0.001), with an inflection point at 0.391 [95% confidence interval (CI): [0.320, 0.566]]. Moreover, this inverted U-shaped pattern was attenuated in cities with higher green space coverage (quadratic interaction β = 0.822, P < 0.05) and larger population (quadratic interaction β = 1.072, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study underscores the multifaceted relationship between noise exposure and sleep duration, providing a theoretical foundation for urban planning and health policy formulation, particularly in optimizing urban sound environments and promoting green space development.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of music therapy combined with noise reduction technology on anxiety and pain perception in dental patients.

Methods: Clinical records of 148 edentulous patients receiving dental implantation from April 2022 to April 2025 were retrospectively reviewed. Groups were stratified by institutional protocol timelines: conventional group (n = 50, standard care only, April 2022-June 2023), music group (n = 49, standard care plus music therapy, July 2023-June 2024) and noise reduction group (n = 49, standard care, music therapy and active noise control, July 2024-April 2025). Comparative metrics included pre-therapy versus post-therapy anxiety [Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and State Anxiety Inventory (S-AI)]; intraoperative pain perception [Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)] during osteotomy preparation, implant placement and gingival suturing and perioperative physiological parameters [heart rate (HR) and systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP)] at 30 minutes preoperatively, during implant placement and during suturing.

Results: Compared with pre-therapy baselines, all groups exhibited reduced MDAS and S-AI scores post-therapy (P < 0.05), with the noise reduction group demonstrating lower scores than the music and conventional groups, and the music group had lower values than the conventional group (P < 0.05). VAS scores during osteotomy, implant placement and suturing were lower in the noise reduction group than in the other groups (P < 0.05), whereas the music group showed reduced scores versus the conventional group at all surgical phases (P < 0.05). At 30 minutes before the operation, elevated HR/SBP/DBP occurred during implant placement/suturing in all groups (P < 0.05), with the noise reduction group maintaining lower levels than the two other groups, and the music group demonstrated lower values than the conventional group during both surgical phases (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The integration of music therapy with noise reduction technology may alleviate anxiety and pain perception in dental implant patients, potentially attenuating perioperative physiological stress responses. However, as a retrospective investigation, these findings reflect associative trends requiring validation through prospective randomised controlled trials.

Background: High noise levels during daytime work may cause sleep disturbances amongst workers, but research findings are inconclusive so far.

Objective: This study aims to compare sleep amongst workers exposed to high and low daytime noise during work in a developing country, where workplaces often have high noise levels.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 181 metal industrial workers (high-noise-exposed workers) and 72 office cleaners (low-noise-exposed workers) in Tanzania. The average noise levels were 97.9 and 76.6 dBA for the high- and low-noise-exposed workers, respectively. An interview-based questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, sleep variables, the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and the Bergen insomnia scale (BIS). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Pearson chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis.

Results: The mean BIS score for high-noise-exposed workers was 13.2, with 40.3% reporting insomnia and 39.8% reporting excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS ≥ 11). The low-noise-exposed workers had a mean BIS score of 15.4, with 51.4% reporting insomnia and 41.7% reporting excessive daytime sleepiness. The crude odds ratio (OR) of insomnia when exposed to high noise was 1.56 (95% CI = 0.90-2.718, P = 0.111), and the crude OR for excessive daytime sleepiness was 1.08 (95% CI = 0.62-1.88, P = 0.782). Insomnia and daytime sleepiness were not different between groups when adjusting for age, marital status, education, smoking, alcohol, coffee consumption and daytime rest periods.

Conclusion: No differences were found between daytime high- and low-noise-exposed workers in relation to self-reported sleep variables. The results must be interpreted with caution due to the use of self-reports and possible unmeasured confounders.

Background: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is among the most common occupational health conditions worldwide. In South Africa, thousands of informal taxi drivers are chronically exposed to high traffic and environmental noise; however, data on their hearing health, awareness of audiology or access to hearing conservation programmes are lacking.

Objective: This study investigated occupational noise exposure, auditory and nonauditory symptoms, knowledge of hearing risks and health-seeking behaviours among minibus taxi drivers in Johannesburg.

Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative design was used. Eighty-six male taxi drivers completed structured questionnaires on demographics, work history, exposure, symptoms, knowledge and health-seeking behaviour. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and logistic regression.

Results: All participants were male. Most firstly, encountered occupational noise between the ages 20 and 30 and worked 12-16 hours daily, with 16-37 years of cumulative exposure. Tinnitus (64%) and hearing difficulties (40%) were the most common, with 78% noticing hearing changes during peak hours. Noise exposure was significantly associated with tinnitus, hearing difficulties, diabetes, perceived hearing changes and the belief that noise affects work. Logistic regression identified tinnitus [odds ratio (OR) = 1634] and hearing difficulties (OR = 166) as the strongest predictors of hearing change. Only 27% had undergone hearing testing, and over half were unaware of audiologists' roles. Knowledge of hearing risks and audiology was linked to high testing uptake.

Conclusions: Johannesburg taxi drivers are at high risk for NIHL because of chronic exposure, long shifts and lack of protective measures. Limited awareness of audiology and poor health-seeking behaviour further increase vulnerability.

Anxiety and sleep disturbances frequently coexist due to common autonomic dysregulation. This review emphasises wind-instrument training as an intervention that integrates intentional breath regulation with self-produced auditory feedback to influence vagal tone and maintain arousal stability. We performed a systematic review and mechanistic analysis, querying PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library (2000-2024) for clinical and experimental studies on wind-instrument training, and synthesised pathways connecting respiration, auditory processing and autonomic regulation. Initial evidence indicates a decrease in anxiety symptoms, enhancements in heart-rate variability and a reduction in nocturnal awakenings; nevertheless, the majority of studies are limited in size and duration, necessitating larger multi-centre trials. Incorporating wind-instrument practice into therapeutic frameworks may enhance existing non-pharmacological strategies by aligning respiratory pacing with consistent and self-produced sound, providing a physiological mechanism for improved emotional regulation and sleep.

Objective: This study aimed to analyse the effects of integrated music relaxation therapy and Snyder's hope theory-based nursing on the psychological and physical status of postoperative patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods: This retrospective study analysed 128 patients with breast cancer who underwent radical mastectomy (RM) with adjuvant chemotherapy (August 2022-August 2024), stratified by nursing protocol timing: control (n = 45, routine care, August 2022-April 2023), hope (n = 42, routine care + Snyder's hope theory-based nursing, May-December 2023) and music groups (n = 41, routine care + hope theory nursing + music relaxation therapy, January-August 2024). The cancer-related fatigue status [Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS)], subjective well-being [Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)], coping styles [Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ)], health behaviours [Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II)] and readiness to return to work [Readiness for Return-to-Work (RRTW) scale] of the three groups were compared before and after four chemotherapy cycles of nursing.

Results: After four chemotherapy cycles of nursing, the CFS score, MCMQ avoidance and resignation dimension scores of the music group were lower than those of the conventional and hope groups, whereas the SWLS, MCMQ confrontation dimension, HPLP-II and RRTW scores were higher. The CFS score, MCMQ avoidance and resignation dimension scores of the hope group were lower than those of the conventional group, whereas the SWLS, MCMQ confrontation dimension, HPLP-II and RRTW scores were higher (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The integrated caring method of music relaxation therapy and Snyder's hope theory-based nursing may contribute to alleviating cancer-related fatigue, enhancing subjective well-being and health-promoting behaviours, potentially facilitating adaptive coping strategies and improving return-to-work readiness in patients post-RM chemotherapy.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of white noise combined with sensory stimulation nursing on compliance and stress response in young children undergoing rigid nasopharyngoscopy examination.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 400 children aged 2-6 years who underwent rigid nasopharyngoscopy at our hospital between June 2023 and June 2024. The patients were stratified into a white noise and sensory stimulation nursing group (n = 200) or standard nursing group (n = 200) in accordance with the nursing care protocol implemented during their examination period. Outcome measures included procedural restraint assessed by the procedural restraint intensity in children (PRIC) scale, salivary cortisol levels, heart rate variability parameters and behavioural distress assessed by the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale. Parental satisfaction was evaluated using the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ-18).

Results: Baseline characteristics demonstrated intergroup equivalence (P > 0.05). Compared with the standard nursing group, the white noise and sensory stimulation nursing group showed significantly better compliance with lower PRIC scores (P < 0.001), reduced salivary cortisol levels (P < 0.001), improved heart rate variability parameters (P < 0.001), significantly lower behavioural distress scores on the FLACC scale (P < 0.001), shorter examination time (P < 0.001) and higher PSQ-18 satisfaction scores (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our retrospective analysis suggests that white noise combined with sensory stimulation nursing may be associated with reduced procedural restraint and stress response in young children undergoing rigid nasopharyngoscopy, representing a potential non-pharmacological approach for paediatric procedural anxiety management.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of different environments in which information is given to increase parents' awareness of oral health.

Methods: This work was conducted on nonrandomized parents of 192 children aged 6 to 12 years who visited the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Baskent University between April and September 2024. A pretest was performed to measure demographic data (age and gender of volunteer child and parent, education level of parent, and socioeconomic status) and to assess oral health information. The first group received verbal education in a quiet environment isolated from the clinic; the second group received verbal education in a crowded clinic environment; and the third group received video-assisted education in a quiet environment. Then, a posttest was administered to all groups.

Results: All evaluated groups showed a statistically significant increase in their posttest scores (P = 0.001). In pairwise comparisons, the mean correct answer scores in the posttest applied after education in background noise and crowded environment were statistically significantly lower than those in the quiet environment (P = 0.029).

Conclusion: Oral health education led to an increase in parental awareness, as measured by the pre- and posttest scores assessing knowledge on oral hygiene, preventive care, and general dental practices, regardless of whether it was delivered in a quiet or noisy clinical environment, or through a video-assisted presentation. However, the effectiveness of the education, as indicated by the increase in scores, was comparable between the quiet environment and video-assisted groups.

Objective: To examine the biological pathways underlying occupational noise-induced depression by assessing the association between noise duration and depression and the mediating role of systemic inflammation.

Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 17,712 US adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Occupational noise exposure duration (no exposure for >15 years), depression risk (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire ≥ 10), and systemic inflammation (systemic inflammation response index [SIRI]) were assessed. Weighted multivariable logistic regression estimated noise-depression associations across three sequential models: crude, confounder-adjusted, and mediator-adjusted (log-transformed SIRI [lnSIRI]). Mediation (bootstrapping), subgroup, and sensitivity analyses were performed, with sensitivity analysis adjusting for nonoccupational noise, occupational type, and other inflammatory biomarkers.

Results: Each ordinal increase in noise exposure duration predicted a 9.0% higher depression risk (odds ratios = 1.090, P = 0.005) after covariate adjustment, demonstrating a dose-response effect. The association persisted across most subgroups but was attenuated among divorced/widowed individuals (Pinteraction = 0.027). lnSIRI mediated 4.0% of the total effect of occupational noise (B = 0.008, 95% CI = 0.003-0.014). Associations remained robust in all sensitivity analyses adjusting for nonoccupational noise, occupational type, and other inflammatory biomarkers.

Conclusion: These findings establish occupational noise as a modifiable neuroimmunological risk factor. Integrated workplace interventions targeting acoustic stress and inflammatory pathways may mitigate depression risk.