Relationship Between Occupational Noise Exposure and Gestational Hypertension in Pregnant Women in Taizhou City: Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: In view of the hazards of occupational noise exposure, this study investigated the relationship between occupational noise exposure and gestational hypertension in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, China to provide inspiration and reference for reducing the occurrence of gestational hypertension. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed the clinical data of 316 pregnant women in Taizhou City admitted to Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University from May 2020 to May 2023. In accordance with Acoustic Environment Quality Standards (GB3096-2008), 60 dB was used as the cut-off point. These pregnant women were divided into the low noise group (LNG, n = 161) and high noise group (HNG, n = 155) according to the noise exposure level in the working environment. This also study compared the noise exposure, blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood lipid (BL), fetal size, and heart rate (HR), and analyzed the relationship of noise exposure with BP, FBG, BL, fetal size, HR, and occurrence of gestational hypertension. Results: The HNG had higher noise exposure level (P < 0.001), BP, FBG, BL and HR (P < 0.001), larger fetal size (P < 0.001) and higher occurrence of gestational hypertension (P < 0.05) compared with the LNG. Correlation analysis showed that noise exposure level was positively correlated with BP, FBG, BL, HR, and fetal size (P < 0.001) and had the strongest association with gestational hypertension. Conclusion: Occupational noise exposure has adverse effects on pregnant women and fetuses. Pregnant women should pay attention to their exposure to occupational noise to prevent gestational hypertension. The results of this study must be further verified and generalized.