An overview of occupational noise-induced hearing loss among workers: epidemiology, pathogenesis, and preventive measures

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is the most prevalent occupational disease in the world. The goal of this study was to review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and preventive measures of ONIHL among workers and provide evidence for the implementation of control measures. Literature studies were identified from the MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using the search terms "noise-induced hearing loss" "prevalence", "pathogenesis", and "preventive measures". The articles reviewed in this report were limited from 2000 to 2020. Articles that were not published in the English language, manuscripts without an abstract, and opinion articles were excluded. After a preliminary screening, all of the articles were reviewed and synthesized to provide an overview of the current status of ONIHL among workers. The mechanism of ONIHL among workers is a complex interaction between environmental and host factors (both genetic and acquired factors). The outcomes of noise exposure are different among individual subjects. Clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate the treatment effect of antioxidants on ONIHL. Noise exposure may contribute to temporary or permanent threshold shifts; however, even temporary threshold shifts may predispose an individual to eventual permanent hearing loss. Noise prevention programs are an important preventive measure in reducing the morbidity of ONIHL among workers.

Standing posture at work does not increase the risk of varicose veins among health care providers in taiwan

Objective: This study compared the risk of varicose veins [VV] among physicians, nonphysician health care providers [HCP], and the general population

Subjects and Methods: The Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database was used to identify 28,844 physicians and 26,099 nonphysi-cian HCP and an identical number of age- and sex-matched patients from the general population. Using logistic regression analyses, W risks between physicians and the general population, nonphysician HCP and the general population, and physicians and nonphysician HCP, and among physician specialists were compared by tracing their medical histories between 2007 and 2011

Results: Physicians and nonphysician HCP had cumulative W incidences of 0.12% [34/28,844] and 0.13% [33/26,099], respectively, during the 5-year period, compared to that of the general population within the same 5-year period. Physicians and nonphysician HCP didnot have a higher W risk than the general population after adjusting for deep vein thrombosis [DVT] history [adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.86; 95% confidence interval [Cl] 0.53-1.40, and AOR 1.43; 95% Cl 0.82-2.50, respectively]. Physicians did not a have higher VV risk than nonphysician HCP [AOR 0.80; 95% Cl 0.43-1.51] after adjusting for age, sex, and DVT history. Surgery had the highest incidence [0.22%] while pediatrics and emergency medicine had the lowest incidence [0%] of VV risk among physician specialists; however, the difference was not significant [all p values >0.05]

Conclusion: In this study, VV risk did not differ among physicians, non-physician HCP, and the general population