Document Detail


Occupational exposure to noise and the prevalence of hearing loss in a Belgian military population: A cross-sectional study.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21173489     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The armed forces are highly exposed to occupational noise. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and noise exposures associated with the severity of hearing loss (HL) in a Belgian military population. A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Centre for Medical Expertise (CME) and in four Units of Occupational Medicine (UOM). Hearing thresholds were determined by audiometry. The examination included a questionnaire on hearing-related medical history, and noise exposure in military and leisure time activity. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to assess the association of the severity of HL with tinnitus, with the military occupation, and with noise exposures. Of the 2055 subjects aged 18-55 years, 661 (32.2%) had a slight HL (25-40 dB), 280 (13.6%) had a moderate HL (45-60 dB) and 206 (10.0%) had a severe HL (>60 dB) of 4 and 6 kHz for both ears. The prevalence of slight, moderate and severe HL increased significantly with age and was higher for subjects from Paracommando and infantry units. Fighting in Built-Up Area (FIBUA) training, shooting with large caliber weapons, and participation in military exercises were the best determinants of HL in this population. These results suggest that subjects from infantry and Paracommando units run the highest risk of HL because they are exposed to very loud noises in their professional life, like large caliber shooting and FIBUA training.
Authors:
Audrey Coll E; Catherine Legrand; Bernadette Govaerts; Paul Van Der Veken; Frank De Boodt; Etienne Degrave
Related Documents :
8760189 - Diurnal heart rate variability in healthy subjects: effects of aging and sex difference.
1246469 - The influence of age on cardiac refractory periods in man.
22461499 - The ice age carbon puzzle.
18269559 - Age-dependency of classic and new parameters of diastolic function.
3841819 - Changes in electrocardiograms at rest among dockers employed at loading/discharging of ...
21171129 - Ongoing exposure versus intense periodic exposure to military conflict and terror attac...
20690709 - Polysaccharide pharmacokinetics: amphotericin b arabinogalactan conjugate-a drug delive...
19298249 - Gambling behavior and gambling problems in norway 2007.
21561749 - Fetal topographical anatomy of the female urethra and descending vagina: a histological...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Noise & health     Volume:  13     ISSN:  1463-1741     ISO Abbreviation:  Noise Health     Publication Date:    2011 Jan-Feb
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-12-21     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9815620     Medline TA:  Noise Health     Country:  India    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  64-70     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Staff Department Well Being, Bruynstreet 1, 1120 Brussels, Belgium.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Noise exposure of musicians of a ballet orchestra.
Next Document:  Vuvuzelas at South African soccer matches: Risks for spectators' hearing.