Association between Occupational Noise and Vibration Exposure and Insomnia among Workers in Korea.

Sung-In Jang,Fatima Nari,Yun Kyung Kim,Soo Hyun Kang,Eun-Cheol Park

doi:10.3390/life10040046

Sung-In Jang, Fatima Nari + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/life10040046

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Abstract

Background: The effect of noise and vibration exposure on disturbed sleep has been investigated in the past. However, this study was carried out to investigate the relationship between workplace noise and vibration exposure with insomnia amongst representative Korean workers, both simultaneously and separately. Methods: Our research analyzed an overall population of 30,837 workers aged 15 years or older using data derived from the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) conducted in 2017. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression were performed to investigate baseline characteristics and to quantify the association between workplace exposure to noise and vibration with insomnia. Relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion (AP), and synergy index (S) were calculated to measure interactions between simultaneous noise and vibration exposure with insomnia. Results: The prevalence of those who reported insomnia was 18.3% of the general population. Among men and women, insomnia in those who were exposed to noise only was 13.9% and 18.3%, respectively, and in those who were exposed to vibration only, it was 23.9% in males and 26.4% in females. Insomnia in those who were exposed to both noise and vibration simultaneously was 20.5% and 41.2% in men and women, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of insomnia due to noise exposure was 1.10 and 1.07 in men and women, respectively. OR of vibration exposure was 1.84 in men and 1.58 in women. For noise plus vibration exposure OR was 1.83 in men and 3.14 in female workers, where the synergistic effect of noise and vibration exposure could be seen. The association between the varying degree of simultaneous noise plus vibration exposure with insomnia showed a dose–response relationship. The interaction measures showed a synergistic effect of simultaneous exposure in women but not in men. Conclusion: Our study revealed an association between occupational noise and vibration exposure and insomnia, both individually and simultaneously. Additional studies and research are required to further comprehend this relationship.

Highlights

Over the past few decades, an emphasis has been placed on investigating the effects of different occupational risk hazards on the safety and wellbeing of workers
Insomnia in those who were exposed to vibration only was 23.9% in males and 26.4% in females
A In Table 3, additional logistic regression analyses were carried out to further investigate the association of insomnia with various occupational variables in workers who were exposed to noise and/or vibration. Those who were exposed to vibration and did not wear personal protective equipment when needed (OR 2.67;) as well as those working more than 11 years at their current job (OR 2.14;) had a high risk of insomnia

Summary

Introduction

Over the past few decades, an emphasis has been placed on investigating the effects of different occupational risk hazards on the safety and wellbeing of workers. Exposure to environmental stressors such as noise and vibration and their detrimental effects on health and diseases have been explored frequently in other studies. Some of these effects include, but are not limited to, physiological conditions. The effect of noise and vibration exposure on disturbed sleep has been investigated in the past. This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between workplace noise and vibration exposure with insomnia amongst representative Korean workers, both simultaneously and separately. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression were performed to investigate baseline characteristics and to quantify the association between workplace exposure to noise and vibration with insomnia.

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