Otoneurological screening of civil construction workers performing work at height

ABSTRACT Purpose: to investigate the prevalence of otoneurological signs and symptoms in construction workers at the health campus of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) that perform their functions at height. Methods: the cross-sectional observational study consisted of 33 construction workers. The Protocolo Ofício de Gestão de Diagnóstico Otoneurológico (Otoneurological Diagnosis Management Service Protocol) was used, which is composed of medical case history, vestibular tests including Dix Hallpike test and Positional Nystagmus, vestibular dynamics evaluation using Head Shaking Nystagmus test, static and dynamic balance tests, cerebellar exam, complementary investigation of the cranial nerves, completion/conduct and orientation. The data were entered into a SPSS 13.0 spreadsheet, considering significant the differences up to the level of 5%. Results: all participants were male. The average age was 38.1 years, ranging from 21 to 65 years. One third of the participants showed changes in screening due to complaints about imbalance and/or tinnitus. Chi-square test revealed a statistically significant difference in the group with complaints of imbalance in relation to the variables of circulatory dysfunctions, headache and use of medicines; the last was also statistically significant in the group with tinnitus. Conclusion: one third of the construction workers who perform work at height presented otoneurological screening results that indicate alteration.摘要 研究目的：调查巴西米纳斯吉拉斯联邦大学（Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, UFMG）健康院区从事高空作业的建筑工人的耳神经科体征与症状患病率。 研究方法：本研究为横断面观察性研究，共纳入33名建筑工人。采用《耳神经科诊断管理服务规程》（Protocolo Ofício de Gestão de Diagnóstico Otoneurológico）开展研究，该规程涵盖医学病史采集、前庭功能检查（含Dix-Hallpike试验与位置性眼震检查）、摇头眼震试验前庭动力学评估、静态与动态平衡测试、小脑检查、颅神经辅助检查，以及数据录入与分析规范。研究数据录入SPSS 13.0电子表格，设定显著性检验阈值为5%。 研究结果：所有受试者均为男性，平均年龄38.1岁，年龄区间为21至65岁。三分之一的受试者因平衡失调和/或耳鸣主诉，耳神经科筛查结果出现异常。卡方检验显示，平衡失调主诉组在循环功能障碍、头痛及用药史变量上存在统计学差异；耳鸣组在用药史变量上同样存在统计学差异。 研究结论：从事高空作业的建筑工人中，有三分之一的耳神经科筛查结果提示存在异常。