A previously unstudied link between workplace noise exposure and the prevalence of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), was shown by a recent study published in the BMC Public Health.
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2005 to 2012 as well as pre-pandemic data up to March 2020 were used in the study headed by Zhounan Wu and colleagues. This comprehensive research evaluated the effect of noise pollution at work on the onset of arthritis in practical situations.
More than 11,000 participants were included in the study, and the results showed a strong correlation between occupational noise exposure and both RA and OA. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that those who had previously been exposed to noise at work were more likely to self-report RA (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.18–1.73) and OA (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.07–1.46).
The length of time spent exposed to noise at work and the likelihood of getting RA were found to be correlated in this study as well. The research did not show a clear exposure-response relationship for periods longer than one year, however there was a discernible rise in chances for prevalent RA among those exposed for one year or more. Furthermore, when it comes to the prevalence of OA, subgroup studies revealed a significant interaction between age and occupational noise exposure, suggesting that there may be age-related factors that increase susceptibility to the condition.
As more evidence links working circumstances to wider health outcomes, the implications of these findings highlight the need of taking occupational noise exposure into account as a potential risk factor for arthritis. The study's findings serve as a warning about the need for additional research in order to completely comprehend the mechanisms driving these correlations.
Reference:
Wu, Z., Liang, Y., Khan, A., & He, J. (2024). Is occupational noise associated with arthritis? Cross-sectional evidence from US population. In BMC Public Health (Vol. 24, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17897-0
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Priyanka Pandey/MSM)