Hyperlipidemia in noise-induced hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of hyperlipidemia on the development of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).


METHODS
This case-control study analyzed data from the Department of Preventive Medicine at one academic medical center in southern Taiwan.


METHODS
We collected the laboratory data from routine health examinations administered to workers who were exposed to noise greater than 85 dBA over a one-year period. We analyzed the relationships of cholesterol and triglyceride levels with NIHL.


RESULTS
A total of 4071 cases were analyzed. After adjusting for age and gender, hypertriglyceridemia was found to be related to NIHL (aOR = 1.281; 95% CI, 1.088-1.507), but hypercholesterolemia was not (aOR = 0.951; 95% CI, 0.795-1.138).


CONCLUSIONS
This study, one of the largest to date to study the relationship between hyperlipidemia and NIHL, found that individuals with hypertriglyceridemia are at greater risk of NIHL. On the basis of this finding, workers exposed to high noise levels should be educated on control of triglyceride levels to help reduce their risk of NIHL.
Chang
Ning-Chia
NC
Graduate Institute of Medicine, Department of Occupation Medicine, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Yu
Ming-Lung
ML
Ho
Kuen-Yao
KY
Ho
Chi-Kung
CK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications*; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol