Noise exposure, hearing loss and cognitive impairment: a cross-sectional study based on an occupational health surveillance cohort in China
BackgroundHigh-intensity noise is associated with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). There is also evidence that noise exposure is related to cognitive impairment. This research aimed to analyze the associations and potential pathways of cumulative noise exposure (CNE), hearing loss and cognitive im...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1455340/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850085068664471552 |
|---|---|
| author | Lei Huang Linjuan Li Juan Wang Shushan Zhang Huiyi Wu Yajia Lan Junying Li Yang Zhang Yang Zhang |
| author_facet | Lei Huang Linjuan Li Juan Wang Shushan Zhang Huiyi Wu Yajia Lan Junying Li Yang Zhang Yang Zhang |
| author_sort | Lei Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundHigh-intensity noise is associated with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). There is also evidence that noise exposure is related to cognitive impairment. This research aimed to analyze the associations and potential pathways of cumulative noise exposure (CNE), hearing loss and cognitive impairment.MethodsA total of 560 research subjects were included in this research from May 2021 to April 2022 in western China. The demographic features, occupational features, and CNE were investigated and examined. Hearing loss was evaluated according to the National standard GB/T 7583–1987 of China. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were used to assess cognitive function. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the potential pathways and specific effect sizes of CNE, hearing loss and cognitive impairment.ResultsThe mean age of the research subjects was 34.3 (SD, 9.89). Men accounted for 96.4% (540/560) and women accounted for 3.6% (20/560). A total of 62.3% (349/560) held a college degree or above. The regression analysis showed that high dose CNE was related to MMSE (β = −1.069 (−1.539, −0.600)) and MoCA (β = −1.040 (−1.726, −0.355)) scores. The monaural threshold weighted value of the right ear (MTWVR) greater than 40 dB was associated with both MMSE (β = −1.183 (−2.033, −0.333)) and MoCA (β = −1.420 (−2.647, −0.193)) scores. The monaural threshold weighted value of the left ear (MTWVL) greater than 40 dB was also associated with MMSE (β = −1.540 (−2.389, −0.690)) and MoCA (β = −1.685 (−2.915, −0.456)) scores. The SEM result (Model C) showed that the standard effect of CNE- hearing loss path, CNE-MMSE path, and hearing loss-MMSE path were 0.142 (p < 0.001), −0.151 (p < 0.001), and −0.030 (p = 0.376). The Model D showed that the standard effect of CNE- hearing loss path, CNE- MoCA path, and hearing loss- MoCA path were 0.143 (p < 0.001), −0.048 (p = 0.267), and − 0.050 (p = 0.047). The CNE had only a direct effect on the MMSE score. Conversely, the CNE had only an indirect effect on the MoCA score, while hearing loss was borderline associated with MoCA. The total effects of CNE on MMSE and MoCA scores were −0.151 and −0.007, respectively.ConclusionJob-related noise exposure is not only associated with NIHL but also with early cognitive impairment in occupational groups. However, there is not enough evidence indicating that NLHL mediates the associations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7313acaa400d493cb1208d2cf3fe5a11 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-7313acaa400d493cb1208d2cf3fe5a112025-08-20T02:43:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-02-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14553401455340Noise exposure, hearing loss and cognitive impairment: a cross-sectional study based on an occupational health surveillance cohort in ChinaLei Huang0Linjuan Li1Juan Wang2Shushan Zhang3Huiyi Wu4Yajia Lan5Junying Li6Yang Zhang7Yang Zhang8Department of Postgraduate Students, West China Hospital and West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaThoracic Oncology Ward, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaOccupational Health Examination Center, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, ChinaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaThoracic Oncology Ward, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Periodical Press and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaChinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaBackgroundHigh-intensity noise is associated with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). There is also evidence that noise exposure is related to cognitive impairment. This research aimed to analyze the associations and potential pathways of cumulative noise exposure (CNE), hearing loss and cognitive impairment.MethodsA total of 560 research subjects were included in this research from May 2021 to April 2022 in western China. The demographic features, occupational features, and CNE were investigated and examined. Hearing loss was evaluated according to the National standard GB/T 7583–1987 of China. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were used to assess cognitive function. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the potential pathways and specific effect sizes of CNE, hearing loss and cognitive impairment.ResultsThe mean age of the research subjects was 34.3 (SD, 9.89). Men accounted for 96.4% (540/560) and women accounted for 3.6% (20/560). A total of 62.3% (349/560) held a college degree or above. The regression analysis showed that high dose CNE was related to MMSE (β = −1.069 (−1.539, −0.600)) and MoCA (β = −1.040 (−1.726, −0.355)) scores. The monaural threshold weighted value of the right ear (MTWVR) greater than 40 dB was associated with both MMSE (β = −1.183 (−2.033, −0.333)) and MoCA (β = −1.420 (−2.647, −0.193)) scores. The monaural threshold weighted value of the left ear (MTWVL) greater than 40 dB was also associated with MMSE (β = −1.540 (−2.389, −0.690)) and MoCA (β = −1.685 (−2.915, −0.456)) scores. The SEM result (Model C) showed that the standard effect of CNE- hearing loss path, CNE-MMSE path, and hearing loss-MMSE path were 0.142 (p < 0.001), −0.151 (p < 0.001), and −0.030 (p = 0.376). The Model D showed that the standard effect of CNE- hearing loss path, CNE- MoCA path, and hearing loss- MoCA path were 0.143 (p < 0.001), −0.048 (p = 0.267), and − 0.050 (p = 0.047). The CNE had only a direct effect on the MMSE score. Conversely, the CNE had only an indirect effect on the MoCA score, while hearing loss was borderline associated with MoCA. The total effects of CNE on MMSE and MoCA scores were −0.151 and −0.007, respectively.ConclusionJob-related noise exposure is not only associated with NIHL but also with early cognitive impairment in occupational groups. However, there is not enough evidence indicating that NLHL mediates the associations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1455340/fulloccupational exposurenoise dosehearing losscognitive impairmentAlzheimer’s diseasestructural equation modeling |
| spellingShingle | Lei Huang Linjuan Li Juan Wang Shushan Zhang Huiyi Wu Yajia Lan Junying Li Yang Zhang Yang Zhang Noise exposure, hearing loss and cognitive impairment: a cross-sectional study based on an occupational health surveillance cohort in China Frontiers in Public Health occupational exposure noise dose hearing loss cognitive impairment Alzheimer’s disease structural equation modeling |
| title | Noise exposure, hearing loss and cognitive impairment: a cross-sectional study based on an occupational health surveillance cohort in China |
| title_full | Noise exposure, hearing loss and cognitive impairment: a cross-sectional study based on an occupational health surveillance cohort in China |
| title_fullStr | Noise exposure, hearing loss and cognitive impairment: a cross-sectional study based on an occupational health surveillance cohort in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Noise exposure, hearing loss and cognitive impairment: a cross-sectional study based on an occupational health surveillance cohort in China |
| title_short | Noise exposure, hearing loss and cognitive impairment: a cross-sectional study based on an occupational health surveillance cohort in China |
| title_sort | noise exposure hearing loss and cognitive impairment a cross sectional study based on an occupational health surveillance cohort in china |
| topic | occupational exposure noise dose hearing loss cognitive impairment Alzheimer’s disease structural equation modeling |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1455340/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leihuang noiseexposurehearinglossandcognitiveimpairmentacrosssectionalstudybasedonanoccupationalhealthsurveillancecohortinchina AT linjuanli noiseexposurehearinglossandcognitiveimpairmentacrosssectionalstudybasedonanoccupationalhealthsurveillancecohortinchina AT juanwang noiseexposurehearinglossandcognitiveimpairmentacrosssectionalstudybasedonanoccupationalhealthsurveillancecohortinchina AT shushanzhang noiseexposurehearinglossandcognitiveimpairmentacrosssectionalstudybasedonanoccupationalhealthsurveillancecohortinchina AT huiyiwu noiseexposurehearinglossandcognitiveimpairmentacrosssectionalstudybasedonanoccupationalhealthsurveillancecohortinchina AT yajialan noiseexposurehearinglossandcognitiveimpairmentacrosssectionalstudybasedonanoccupationalhealthsurveillancecohortinchina AT junyingli noiseexposurehearinglossandcognitiveimpairmentacrosssectionalstudybasedonanoccupationalhealthsurveillancecohortinchina AT yangzhang noiseexposurehearinglossandcognitiveimpairmentacrosssectionalstudybasedonanoccupationalhealthsurveillancecohortinchina AT yangzhang noiseexposurehearinglossandcognitiveimpairmentacrosssectionalstudybasedonanoccupationalhealthsurveillancecohortinchina |