Road traffic noise and hypertension

Abstract

Background: It has been suggested that noise exposure increases the risk of hypertension. Road traffic is the dominant source of community noise exposure. Objective: To study the association between exposure to residential road traffic noise and hypertension in an urban municipality. Methods: The study population comprised randomly selected subjects aged 19-80 years. A postal questionnaire provided information on individual characteristics, including diagnosis of hypertension. The response rate was 77%, resulting in a study population of 667 subjects. The outdoor equivalent traffic noise level (Leq 24 h) at the residence of each individual was determined using noise-dispersion models and manual noise assessments. The individual noise exposure was classified in units of 5 dB(A), from ,45 dB(A) to .65 dB(A). Results: The odds ratio (OR) for hypertension adjusted for age, smoking, occupational status and house type was 1.38 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06 to 1.80) per 5 dB(A) increase in noise exposure. The association seemed stronger among women (OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.17 to 2.50) and among those who had lived at the address for .10 years (OR 1.93; 95% CI 1.29 to 2.83). Analyses of categorical exposure variables suggested an exposure-response relationship. The strongest association between exposure to traffic noise and hypertension was found among those with the least expected misclassification of true individual exposure, as indicated by not having triple-glazed windows, living in an old house and having the bedroom window facing a street (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.38 to 4.43). Conclusion:The results of our study suggest an association between exposure to residential road traffic noise and hypertension.

Associations of Noise and Socioeconomic and -Demographic Status on Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases on Borough Level in a Large German City State

“…Contrary to many other studies [12][13][14][35][36][37], noise did not show any significant association with any cardiovascular or respiratory disease. Road traffic noise was transferred to the number of potentially affected residents per building block, and scaled in percent per borough.…”

“…Furthermore, besides genetic disposition, family history, and previous atopic disease [49,50], individual behavioral factors such as smoking status including passive smoking, alcohol intake, or physical activity, awareness for diseases such as hypertension and factors describing the daily routine are discussed to be associated with the occurrence of different cardiovascular and respiratory health outcomes [7,23,[35][36][37][51][52][53][54][55].…”

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Malay Version of the Confusion, Hubbub and Order Scale (CHAOS-6) among Myocardial Infarction Survivors in a Malaysian Cardiac Healthcare Facility

“…People who have survived chronic lifethreatening illnesses are often confronted with multiple physical and psychological stressors: unemployment, homelessness, poverty, noise, overcrowding, reduced social support and deteriorating mental status, among others (1)(2)(3). These factors can disrupt people's ability to access and implement medical care, predisposing patients to engage in risky health behaviours, miss appointments and adhere poorly to treatment plans (3)(4)(5).…”

Joint effects of job strain and road-traffic and occupational noise on myocardial infarction

“…It has therefore been hypothesized that exposure to transportation and occupational noise may cause permanent vascular effects (10). Epidemiological studies have shown contradicting results, but -taken together -the evidence suggests an increased risk of hypertension associated with exposure to road-traffic, aircraft, or occupational noise (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). In a review of residential-traffic noise exposure and hypertension, the meta-analysis showed an odds ratio (OR) of 1.034 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.011-1.056] per 5 dBA increase of the 16-hour average road-traffic noise level (L Aeq,16h ) range 45-75 dBA (20).…”