[Agricultural work: noise exposure and cardiovascular effects].

Aim of the study was to assess cardiovascular effects in the farmers exposed to noise. We assessed two samples of 143 farmers using tactor (mean age 51.0 +/- 10.5 years, length of service 33.0 +/- 10.5 years) and 193 farmers not exposed to noise (controls) (mean age 48.3 +/- 13.7 years, length of service 30.6 +/- 14.7 years). After the phonometric measurements all farmers were undergone to a medical examination, measurements of blood pressure, a audiometric test and a electrocardiogram. The collected data show an increased prevalence of hypertension and electrocardiographic anomalies in farmers exposed to noise (systolic hypertension n. 53, 37.1%; diastolic hypertension n. 60, 42.0%; electrocardiographic anomalies n. 44; 30.8%) compared to the control group (systolic hypertension n. 23, 16.1%; diastolic hypertension n. 26, 18.2%; electrocardiographic anomalies n. 5; 3.5%) (systolic hypertension p = 0.002; diastolic hypertension p = 0.003; electrocardiographic anomalies p = 0.030). Our results could be taken to mean that there are effects of chronic exposure to noise on cardiovascular apparatus; this would stimulate the screening programmes for farmers.