Road traffic noise and cardiovascular disease risk factors in UK Biobank

Abstract

Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional associations of modelled residential road traffic noise with cardiovascular disease risk factors [systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), C-reactive protein, triglycerides, glycated haemoglobin, and self-reported hypertension] in UK Biobank. Methods and results The UK Biobank recruited 502 651 individuals aged 40–69 years across the UK during 2006–10. Road traffic noise (Lden and Lnight) exposure for 2009 was estimated at baseline address using a simplified version of the Common Noise Assessment Methods model. We used multivariable linear and logistic regression models, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol intake, area- and individual-level deprivation, season of blood draw, length of time at residence, and nitrogen dioxide (main model), in an analytical sample size of over 370 000 participants. Exposure to road-traffic Lden >65 dB[A], as compared to ≤55 dB[A], was associated with 0.77% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60%, 0.95%], 0.49% (95% CI 0.32%, 0.65%), 0.79% (95% CI 0.11%, 1.47%), and 0.12% (95% CI −0.04%, 0.28%) higher SBP, DBP, triglycerides, and glycated haemoglobin, respectively. Removing BMI from the main model yielded significant positive associations with all five markers with elevated percent changes. The associations with SBP or DBP did not appear to be impacted by hypertension medication while a positive association with prevalent self-reported hypertension was seen in the non-medicated group who exposed to a Lden level of 60–65 dB[A] (odds ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.00, 1.15). Conclusion Exposure to road traffic noise >65 dB[A], independent of nitrogen dioxide, was associated with small but adverse changes in blood pressure and cardiovascular biochemistry.

Noise exposure and its relationship with postinfarction cardiac remodeling: implications for NLRP3 inflammasome activation

“…Intriguingly, in our experiment, the changes in inflammatory cytokine levels in heart samples in noise exposure and noise insulation environments were much more notable than those in sympathetic ganglia, which indicate the existence of other potential proinflammatory mechanisms apart from the neuroendocrine-cardiovascular axis. Recently, data from the UK Biobank revealed a more complicated association between noise and cardiovascular risk [ 54 ]. Glycated hemoglobin levels, blood pressure, body mass index, C-reactive protein levels, and triglyceride levels are relatively higher in people living in an environment of ≥65 Db than in people living in an environment of ≤55 dB, and this effect was not affected by the use of relevant medications.…”

Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies on the Association of Exposure to Toxic Environmental Pollutants and Left Ventricular Dysfunction

“…The associations of CVDs with avoidable exposures, other than those due to behaviors such as tobacco smoke or alcohol consumption, are well established for many categories of toxic by-products from human activities (e.g., traffic, industries, waste disposal, energy production from fossil fuels) [ 8 ] and manufactured products as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) which accumulate in the environment [ 9 ]. However, the increasing incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has attracted researchers’ interest in providing new evidence on the direct effects of the physical–chemical environment on myocardial damage.…”

Associations of self-reported residential noise exposure with obesity and hypertension in children and adolescents

“…It is suggested that noise sensitivity, rather than the noise level, predicts the non-auditory health hazards of noise (14). However, almost all these studies adopted model estimated road traffic noise in the analysis, which may be inaccurate as the layout of rooms in the house, window opening habits, and indoor noise levels were not taken into account (15), indeed, noise sensitivity was also not considered. Also, most of these findings come from Europe and North American countries.…”