Seafarers’ Occupational Noise Exposure and Cardiovascular Risk. Comments to Bolm-Audorff U.; et al. Occupational Noise and Hypertension Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

摘要

A German team published a new meta-analysis on the topic, “Occupational noise and hypertension risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis” in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [1]. They conclude to the relationship between a high level of blood pressure and noise exposure. One of the 23 selected articles was published in French in 1986 by Jégaden et al. It involved 455 seafarers aged from 40 to 55—164 mechanics and 291 deck crew members [2]. There is a relation between existence of lower auditiv capacity for the 4000 Hz frequency and exposure upper than 85 dB(A) [3]. The various impact of noise exposure level between these two categories of seafarers was only noticed among the mechanics’ strength. The prevalence of confirmed hypertension among mechanics was 18.90% (12.8–25%) compared to 11.68% (7.92–15.44%) in deck crew members (p < 0.05). The relative risk was 1.62 (1.03–2.53) and was independent to other risk factors of hypertension (obesity, alcohol consumption, hypertensive heredity). It also indicated that the occurrence of hypertension was related, on the one hand, to a high level of noise (>85 dB(A)) and, on the other hand, to a duration of exposure to noise for more than 20 years [2]. Similar to other publications, Bolm–Audorff meta-analysis provides clear evidence of the relationship between exposure to industrial noise above 85 dB(A) and the risk of high blood pressure [4,5,6,7]. This relative risk is calculated at 1.72 (1.48–2.01) [1]. Fu et al. find a relative risk of 1.62 (1.40–1.88) and Skogstad et al. 1.68 (1.10–2.57), similar to Jégaden et al. [2,4,5]. In a contradictory way, some studies continue to fail to find this relationship, including marine environment [8,9].