Evaluation of factors affecting sensory neural hearing loss.

A detailed analysis of risk factors in the development of sensory-neural hearing loss (SNHL) was carried out in 199 forest workers. The mean hearing threshold of both ears at 4000 Hz was measured and the effect of age, exposure, blood pressure, presence of vibration induced white finger (VWF), tobacco smoking and plasma lipid concentrations on SNHL were evaluated by multiple linear regression analysis. A part of aging the major risk factors were presence of VWF, elevation of LDL-cholesterol level and usage of antihypertensive agents. Additional factors in the analysis, e.g. smoking and diastolic and systolic blood pressure did not significantly contribute to the genesis of SNHL.