Noise and hypertension: study of their association among female teachers

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose: investigate the association of noise exposure with the occurrence of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) among public school female teachers. Methods: a cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study was conducted. A questionnaire elaborated by the researchers was applied to a random sample of 133 female teachers. Noise exposure dosimetry was used among the sample subjects. The non-conditional logistic regression technique was applied to identify significant variables and control confounding variables for the occurrence of SAH. Results: the prevalence of hypertension found, in teachers, in this study, was 17.3%. However, the association between occupational noise exposure and the occurrence of hypertension was not verified. It was observed that smoking is a very relevant risk factor for hypertension, while the physical effort performed at work appeared as a protection factor. Conclusion: although the variable "noise exposure dose" was not significant in the final model, it was found that the exposure values were above the limits, justifying the adoption of preventive measures.

Keywords

• Hypertension
• Occupational Noise
• Occupational Exposure
• Teachers