title: Falls risk and hospitalization among retired workers with occupational noise-induced hearing loss.
abstract: This study sought to ascertain whether occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) increased the risk of falls requiring hospitalization among retired workers. The study population consisted of males (age ≥ 65) with an average occupational noise exposure of 30.6 years and whose mean bilateral hearing loss was 42.2 dB HL at 3, 4, and 6 kHz. Seventy-two retired workers admitted to hospitals after a fall were matched with 216 controls from the same industrial sectors. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate the risk (odds ratio; [OR]) of falls leading to hospitalization by NIHL categories. Results showed a relationship between severe NIHL (≥ 52.5 dB HL) and the occurrence of a fall (OR: 1.97, CI95%: 1.001-3.876). Reducing falls among seniors fosters the maintenance of their autonomy. There is a definite need to acquire knowledge about harmful effects of occupational noise to support the prevention of NIHL and ensure healthier workplaces.
authors.affiliation: Institut national de santé publique du Québec.
authors.forename: Serge André
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.affiliation: École d'orthophonie et d'audiologie, Université de Montréal.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leroux
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verreault
authors.affiliation: Institut national de santé publique du Québec.
authors.forename: Marilène
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Courteau
authors.affiliation: École d'orthophonie et d'audiologie, Université de Montréal.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picard
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec.
authors.forename: Fernand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Turcotte
authors.affiliation: Institut national de santé publique du Québec.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baril
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011792:Quebec; D012179:Retirement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors