[Arterial hypertension among oil-drilling workers exposed to noise]

A cross-sectional study with a retrospective component was conducted to evaluate occupational noise exposure as a potential risk factor for arterial hypertension among 775 workers from an oil-drilling industry. Hypertension was defined as >/= 140/90mmHg. Occupational noise exposure was measured as: (1) exposure to sound pressure levels >/= 85dbA for 10 years or more and (2) moderate-to-severe noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The effects of age, education, shift work, and obesity were evaluated by stratification and logistic regression analysis. A positive association between occupational noise exposure and hypertension was found, using both the level/duration of noise exposure (RP = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3-2.4) and NIHL (RP = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.0) as exposure indicators. Considering the study limits, long-term occupational noise exposure thus appears to be a risk factor for arterial hypertension.