Self-reported noise exposure as a risk factor for long-term sickness absence

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology
• Social Science

Background:

• Self-reported occupational noise exposure is increasing in Denmark.
• The social consequences of noise exposure, particularly sickness absence, are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between self-reported occupational noise exposure and long-term sickness absence.
• To explore potential differences in this association between genders and across varying levels of noise exposure.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Cox proportional hazards models to analyze Danish register and survey data from 5357 employees (aged 18-69 in 2000).
• Adjusted for demographic factors, health behaviors, and physical workload.

Main Results:

• Self-reported noise exposure was significantly associated with long-term sickness absence for both men and women.
• After adjusting for physical workload, the association persisted for men but not for women.
• Men exposed to loud noise for 25-75% of their work time had a 43% increased risk of sickness absence (≥2 weeks).

Conclusions:

• Occupational noise exposure is associated with long-term sickness absence, particularly in men.
• The healthy worker effect or increased hearing protection use may explain the lack of association in men exposed to noise >75% of the time.
• Findings support a link between occupational noise and sickness absence, underscoring the need for noise reduction strategies.