Occupational Noise-Induced Pre-Hypertension and Determinant Factors Among Metal Manufacturing Workers in Gondar City Administration, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction

Cardiovascular disorders are one of the commonly recognized occupational diseases in the developed world. Individuals chronically exposed to noise at workplaces had a higher risk of developing elevated arterial blood pressure. There are limited studies in Ethiopia regarding this topic and thus this study determined the prevalence and determinant factors of occupational noise-induced pre-hypertension among metal manufacturing workers in Gondar city administration, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study design was carried out. In this study, 300 study participants were recruited by census sampling method. A sound level meter was used to measure the working area noise level. A semi-structured pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and clinical data. Blood pressure was measured in a quiet room in the morning using a mercurial sphygmomanometer. Both bivariable and multi-variable binary logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with noise-induced prehypertension. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was reported, and variables with p < 0.05 were considered as statistically associated factors with pre-hypertension.

Results

The prevalence of noise-induced pre-hypertension was 27.7% (95% CI: 22.7–32.7). In multivariable logistic regression, working area noise level (AOR = 3.8, 95% CI: 6.8–8.9), 45–65 years’ age (AOR = 9.8, 95% CI: 5.4–12.9), years of work experience ((6–10 years (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.98–5.90 and >10 years (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI: 7.8–9.75)), being a cigarette smoker (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.36–9.77), and alcohol consumption (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.06–1.04) were significantly associated with noise-induced prehypertension.

Conclusion

Workers in metal manufactures who were exposed to noise levels >85 dB developed elevated blood pressure. The odds of having prehypertension were increased by years of work experience, advanced age, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Our findings recommended that the real-world preventive strategies should be taken to lower the risk of noise-induced pre-hypertension hastened by occupational noise exposure.

Keywords:

• noise
• pre-hypertension
• metal manufacturing workers
• Ethiopia

Abbreviations

BP, blood pressure; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; BMI, body mass index; OR, odds ratio; AOD, adjusted odds ratio; COD, crude odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; dB(A), decibel A.

Availability of Data and Materials

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable requests.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all study participants and data collectors for their contributions to the success of this study. The authors also thank the University of Gondar for providing ethical clearance.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the paperwork and were actively involved in the conceptualization, methods, execution, acquisition of data, analysis, and interpretation. They also took part in drafting, critically reviewed the manuscript, gave final approval the final manuscript, have agreed on the journal to which the manuscript has been submitted, and agreed to be responsible for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

All authors declare that they have no competing interests.