ABSTRACT
Background Tinnitus is a common symptom in workers exposed to noise, and no specific treatment is available yet. Paying attention to the influencing factors of tinnitus is very important to prevent tinnitus. Objective To investigate the situation of tinnitus among noise-exposed workers and its influencing factors. Methods Using a cross-sectional study design, 1011 noise-exposed male workers in Hangzhou were studied. Tinnitus status, age, education, personal protection, smoking history, drinking history, and family history of the participants were surveyed by questionnaires. Binaural pure tone hearing threshold test was performed on all study subjects. The environmental noise in the workplace was measured. The relationships of tinnitus with noise exposure intensity, noise exposure time, noise exposure category, cumulative noise exposure, and wearing hearing protectors among the noise-exposed workers were analyzed by logistic regression. Results The prevalence of tinnitus among the noise-exposed workers was 36.1%. The mean hearing thresholds at 500, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz in the right and left ears were higher in the tinnitus group than in the non-tinnitus group (P<0.05); the hearing threshold at 2000 Hz in the right ear was higher in the tinnitus group than in the non-tinnitus group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the prevalence of monaural speech-frequency hearing loss or monaural high-frequency hearing loss (P>0.05). The on-site noise intensity was divided into three groups: ＜85, 85-＜95, and ≥95 dB(A); the prevalence of tinnitus in the three groups was 19.6%, 40.5%, and 66.7% respectively. The years of noise exposure was divided into three groups: ＜1, 1-＜5, and ≥5 years; the prevalence of tinnitus in the three groups was 17.9%, 34.0%, and 45.4% respectively. The cumulative noise exposure was divided into six groups: ＜80, 80-＜85, 85-＜90, 90-＜95, 95-＜100, and ≥100 dB(A)·year; the prevalence of tinnitus in the six groups was 6.8%, 25.0%, 31.0%, 39.6%, 43.1%, and 46.7% respectively. The prevalence of tinnitus was higher in the non-stationary noise group (42.5%) than in the stationary noise group (26.8%) (χ2=26.18, P<0.01), and the prevalence in the group without or with hearing protection was 39.7% and 35.5% respectively. The results of logistic regression showed that workers exposed to higher intensity, longer noise exposure, higher cumulative noise exposure, and non-stationary noise (reference: stationary noise) resulted in a higher risk of tinnitus (Ptrend<0.01 or P<0.01); workers wearing of hearing protection device versus those not showed a lower risk of tinnitus (P<0.05). Conclusion Higher intensity, longer exposure to noise, and more cumulative noise exposure associate with a higher risk of tinnitus. Wearing hearing protective device can reduce the risk of tinnitus. Tinnitus in noise-exposed workers can precede the presentation of abnormal hearing loss.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare blood pressure control in community hypertensive patients with different management methods.Methods Two neighborhood committees in a community of Pudong were selected as study area using cluster sampling method.A total of 5 166 residents aged ≥35 y were screened for blood pressure; the subjects with high blood pressure and had antihypertensive medication in last 6 months were included,and patients with secondary hypertension was excluded.The patients who entered community hypertension management program and got medication from community were included in community group; those who did not enter in community management program and/or not get medication from community were included in non-community group.Self-designed questionnaire was used for investigation.The medication compliance,awareness of hypertension risk factors and high blood pressure control were compared between two groups.Results Among 5 166 residents 4 763 were surveyed for hypertension with a response rate of 92.2％ and hypertension prevalence rate of 23.2％ (1 105/4 763).Among 1 012 patients with drug treatment for more than 6 months,there were 878 cases in community (86.8％) and 134 cases (13.2％) in non-community group.There were no significant differences in gender,age,education,working condition between community group and non-community group (P ＞ 0.05).44.3％ (389/878) patients in community group had a history of high blood pressure ＞ 10 y and that was 56.7％ (76/134) in non-community group (P =0.011) ; 28.6％ (251/878) patients in community group were at high risk for risk stratification and that in non-community group was 47.8％ (64/134) (P ＜0.001).The awareness of hypertension risk factors in community group and non-community group was 83.9％ and 95.5％,respectively (P ＜ 0.001).The medication compliance and blood pressure control rates in two groups were 93.2 ％ and 84.3 ％ (P ＜ 0.001),68.6％ and 51.5 ％,respectively (P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion The outcomes of hypertension management in terms of medication compliance and blood pressure control in community group are better than those in non-community group.