title: Exposure to workplace noise and the risk of cardiovascular disease events and mortality among older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to examine whether cross-sectional (prevalence) and longitudinal relationships (5-year incidence and 10-year mortality) exist between workplace noise exposure and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
  
  
  METHODS
  2942 participants aged 55+years of the Blue Mountains Eye Study, Australia (1997-9 and 2002-4). Participants self-reported workplace noise exposure, hearing protector use and physician diagnosed CVD. CVD deaths were confirmed using the Australian National Death Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  133 and 937 participants self-reported workplace noise exposure, and use or non-use of hearing protection devices, respectively. After multivariate adjustment, those who did not use hearing protection devices were 53% and 75% more likely to have prevalent CVD and angina, respectively, compared to those never exposed to workplace noise. Exposure to severe workplace noise for less than 1 to 5 years versus no exposure was associated with incident stroke OR 3.44 (95% CI 1.11-10.63). The mortality rate of CVD was 0.94% per year in people unexposed to workplace noise. Participants reporting less than 1 to 5 years versus those with no workplace noise exposure had a higher risk of CVD mortality, hazard ratio, HR, 1.60 (95% CI 1.10-2.33).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data highlight the public health impact of workplace noise exposure on the vascular health of older adults.
authors: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Bamini
authors: B
authors: Gopinath
authors: Aravinda
authors: A
authors: Thiagalingam
authors: Erdahl
authors: E
authors: Teber
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017132:Workplace