Table 1 Characteristics of male and female workers exposed to industrial noise (total n = 2280)
From: Sex differences in noise-induced hearing loss: a cross-sectional study in China
Variables | Males (n = 1140) | Females (n = 1140) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
Age, mean ± SD | 35.0 ± 8.4 | 35.0 ± 8.4 | 0.996 |
Cumulative noise exposure, mean ± SD | 92.9 ± 8.8 | 92.9 ± 8.8 | 0.920 |
Body mass index, n (%) | Â | Â | < 0.001 |
 Normal | 643 (56.4) | 758 (66.5) |  |
 Overweight | 374 (32.8) | 268 (23.5) |  |
 Obese | 83 (7.3) | 38 (3.3) |  |
Hearing protective device use, n (%) | Â | Â | 0.028 |
 < 4 h per day | 462 (40.5) | 411 (36.1) |  |
 >= 4 h per day | 678 (59.5) | 729 (63.9) |  |
Community noise exposure, n (%) | Â | Â | < 0.001 |
 No | 714 (62.6) | 820 (71.9) |  |
 Yes | 426 (37.4) | 320 (28.1) |  |
Personal earphone use, n (%) | Â | Â | 0.001 |
 < 2 h per day | 830 (72.8) | 897 (78.7) |  |
 >= 2 h per day | 310 (27.2) | 243 (21.3) |  |
Smoking, n (%) | Â | Â | < 0.001 |
 < 10 cigarettes per day | 674 (59.1) | 1132 (99.3) |  |
 >= 10 cigarettes per day | 466 (40.9) | 8 (0.7) |  |
Alcohol consumption, n (%) | Â | Â | < 0.001 |
 < 50 g alcohol per day | 793 (69.6) | 1116 (97.9) |  |
 >= 50 g alcohol per day | 347 (30.4) | 24 (2.1) |  |
Hearing difficulty, n (%) | Â | Â | 0.780 |
 Never | 441 (38.7) | 439 (38.5) |  |
 Sometimes | 472 (41.4) | 461 (40.4) |  |
 Often | 227 (19.9) | 240 (21.1) |  |
Tinnitus, n (%) | Â | Â | 0.307 |
 No | 804 (70.5) | 827 (72.5) |  |
 Yes | 336 (29.5) | 313 (27.5) |  |
Low-frequency hearing loss, n (%) | Â | 0.010 | |
 No | 1041 (91.3) | 1074 (94.2) |  |
 Yes | 99 (8.7) | 66 (5.8) |  |
High-frequency hearing loss, n (%) | Â | Â | < 0.001 |
 No | 749 (65.7) | 983 (86.2) |  |
 Yes | 391 (34.3) | 157 (13.8) |  |