Occupational exposure to noise and cold environment and the risk of death due to myocardial infarction and stroke

Hans Pettersson,Bengt Järvholm,David Olsson

doi:10.1007/s00420-019-01513-5

Hans Pettersson, Bengt Järvholm + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-019-01513-5

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Abstract

PurposeThe present study examined a possible association between occupational exposure to noise, working and living in cold conditions, and the risk of mortality in myocardial infarction and stroke.MethodsThe present cohort study consists of 194,501 workers in the Swedish construction industry that participated in health examinations between 1971 and 1993. Noise exposure was defined on a job-exposure matrix based on a survey of the working conditions carried out during the mid 1970s. All workers were categorised into three main regions of Sweden, differing in temperature: Reference (Götaland), colder (Svealand), and coldest (Norrland). Relative risks (RR) were analysed by negative binomial regression adjusting for age, BMI, and smoking habits.ResultsModerate and high noise exposure was associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction (RR 1.10–1.13 with 95% CI over unit) and stroke mortality (RR 1.15 to 1.19 with 95% CI over unit). There was an increased risk for myocardial infarction (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01–1.20), but not for stroke mortality (RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.94–1.25) associated with living and working in the coldest region. There was an interaction on the risk of myocardial infarction mortality between different regions and noise exposure (p = 0.016), but not for stroke mortality (p = 0.88).ConclusionsThe study indicates an interaction between working at hazardous noise levels and living and working in cold conditions for increased mortality in myocardial infarction.

Highlights

Some studies indicate that occupational noise has non-auditory effects on the cardiovascular health such as increased risks of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke (Dzhambov and Dimitrova 2016; Skogstad et al 2016; Theorell et al 2016)
Several studies have found that living in cold climate or cooling of the body increases mortality in cardiovascular disease (Analitis et al 2008; Gasparrini et al 2015; Song et al 2017)
The aim was to study a possible association between occupational exposure to noise, working and living in cold conditions, and the risk of mortality in myocardial infarction

Summary

Introduction

Some studies indicate that occupational noise has non-auditory effects on the cardiovascular health such as increased risks of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke (Dzhambov and Dimitrova 2016; Skogstad et al 2016; Theorell et al 2016). Several studies have found that living in cold climate or cooling of the body increases mortality in cardiovascular disease (Analitis et al 2008; Gasparrini et al 2015; Song et al 2017). There is no study on a possible interaction of occupational noise and working. The aim was to study a possible association between occupational exposure to noise, working and living in cold conditions, and the risk of mortality in myocardial infarction. Construction workers in Sweden are exposed to hazardous noise levels and they work in cold conditions during winter season, are well suited to include in a study on occupational noise, working in cold conditions and the effect thereof on cardiovascular disease

Study design and population

Results

Discussion

Findings

Compliance with ethical standards