Analysis of Metabolic Risk Factors Associated with the Severity of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss among Cement Factory Workers at PT Semen Tonasa

Abstract

Noise exposure is a risk factor for hearing impairment in the workplace. Metabolic risk factors may exacerbate noise-induced hearing impairment. This study aims to analyze metabolic risk factors associated with the degree of noise-induced hearing impairment based on Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) results. This cross-sectional study involved 98 workers from PT Semen Tonasa in Pangkep Regency who met the study criteria. Metabolic risk factors included waist circumference, fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. Hearing function was assessed via PTA, with the degree of hearing impairment categorized according to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards. Significant differences were observed regarding waist circumference (left ear p=0.036, right ear p=0.034) and SBP (left ear p=0.047, right ear p=0.045) in relation to the degree of hearing impairment based on PTA results. Based on NCEP-ATP III criteria, an association was also found between metabolic syndrome and the degree of hearing impairment in the left ear (p=0.016, OR=2.865) and right ear (p=0.011). However, after adjusting for age and duration of employment in the multivariate analysis, none of the metabolic syndrome components (waist circumference, FBG, triglycerides, HDL, SBP, DBP) were significant independent risk factors for the degree of hearing impairment (p>0.05). Metabolic risk factors are not the sole factors influencing the degree of hearing impairment.