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Falls Risk and Hospitalization among Retired Workers with Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2013

Serge André Girard ,
Tony Leroux ,
René Verreault ,
Marilène Courteau ,
Michel Picard ,
Fernand Turcotte  and
Julie Baril
Serge André Girard*
Affiliation:
Institut national de santé publique du Québec
Tony Leroux
Affiliation:
École d’orthophonie et d’audiologie, Université de Montréal Laboratoire d’études sur l’audition, Institut Raymond-Dewar, Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation
René Verreault
Affiliation:
Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec
Marilène Courteau
Affiliation:
Institut national de santé publique du Québec
Michel Picard
Affiliation:
École d’orthophonie et d’audiologie, Université de Montréal
Fernand Turcotte
Affiliation:
Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec
Julie Baril
Affiliation:
Institut national de santé publique du Québec École d’orthophonie et d’audiologie, Université de Montréal
*
*Correspondence and requests for reprints should be sent to / La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: Serge André Girard, M.A. Institut national de santé publique du Québec Direction des risques biologiques et de la santé au travail 945 ave Wolfe, QC G1V 5B3 ([email protected], [email protected])
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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.

Résumé

L’étude vise à vérifier si une perte auditive d’origine professionnelle, contribue au risque de chute avec hospitalisation chez des retraités. Des hommes (≥ 65 ans) exposés au bruit en moyenne durant 30,6 ans et dont la perte auditive bilatérale moyenne est de 42,2 dB HL (3, 4 et 6 kHz) sont étudiés. 72 travailleurs retraités hospitalisés suite à une chute sont appariés à 216 retraités des mêmes secteurs industriels. Des modèles de régression logistique conditionnelle sont utilisés pour estimer le rapport de cote (RC) par catégories de perte auditive. Les résultats montrent une relation entre une perte auditive sévère (≥ 52,5 dB HL) et une chute (RC = 1,97 IC95%: 1,001 à 3,876). Réduire les chutes chez les personnes âgées favorise le maintien de leur autonomie. Il faut développer les connaissances sur les effets nocifs du bruit au travail, promouvoir la santé auditive et favoriser de saines conditions de travail.

Keywords

agingcase-control studyfallsnoise induced hearing lossoccupational noiseretired workersvieillissementétude cas-temoinchutesperte auditive d’origine professionnellebruit au travailtravailleurs retraités
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 33 , Issue 1 , March 2014 , pp. 84 - 91
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2013 

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