Exposure to self-reported occupational noise and diabetes – A cross-sectional relationship in 7th European Social Survey (ESS7, 2014)

Objectives Almost nothing is known about the effect of occupational noise on diabetes, and this is particularly relevant given the wide spread of both noise exposure and diabetes. This study has aimed to determine whether occupational noise exposure is associated with higher risk of diabetes in Europe. Material and Methods This study is based on 7th European Social Survey (ESS7, 2014) – a multi-country population-based questionnaire survey, which covered 28 221 Europeans aged ≥ 15 years old. Data on self-reported noise exposure, diabetes and other sociodemographic and work-related factors was available. The odds of prevalent diabetes were explored using unconditional logistic regression. Results In the total sample (N = 23 486), participants ever exposed to very loud noise had no substantive increase in the odds of diabetes (odds ratio (OR) = 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78–1.32). There were subgroups with non-significantly increased odds: men (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.87–1.45), the elderly (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.91–1.31), ethnic minority members (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 0.91–2.62), those with secondary education (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.78–1.41) and those living in small cities/towns (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.89–1.29). Low-skilled white-collar workers had OR = 1.34 (95% CI: 1.09–1.64). Among participants employed during the preceding 5 years the odds were OR = 1.24 (95% CI: 0.95–1.61). Conclusions Self-reported occupational noise was not associated with increased odds of prevalent diabetes in the total sample. Sensitivity analyses revealed some subgroups with non-significantly higher odds. Our results suggest that further delve into the relationship between occupational noise and diabetes is feasible and warranted. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(4):537–551