Journal article

Publication year: 2016

Pages: 749-758

Journal: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

Volume number: 219

Issue number: 8

ISSN: 1438-4639

eISSN: 1618-131X

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.09.012

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 

Background: Several studies point to an elevated risk for cardiovascular diseases induced by traffic noise. Aims: We examined the association between aircraft, road traffic and railway noise and heart failure or hypertensive heart disease (HHD) in a large case-control study.

Methods: The study population consisted of individuals that were insured by three large statutory health insurance funds in the Rhine-Main area of Germany. Based on insurance claims and prescription data, 104,145 cases of heart failure or HHD diagnosed 2006-10 were identified and compared with 654,172 control subjects. Address-specific exposure to aircraft, road and railway traffic noise in 2005 was estimated. Odds Ratios were calculated using logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex, local proportion of persons receiving unemployment benefits, and individual socioeconomic status (available for 39% of the individuals).

Results: A statistically significant linear exposure-risk relationship with heart failure or hypertensive heart disease was found for aircraft traffic noise (1.6% risk increase per 10 dB increase in the 24-h continuous noise level; 95% CI 0.3-3.0%), road traffic noise (2.4% per 10 dB; 95% CI 1.6-3.2%), and railway noise (3.1% per 10 dB; 95% CI 2.2-4.1%). For individuals with 24-h continuous aircraft noise levels <40 dB and nightly maximum aircraft noise levels exceeding 50 dB six or more times, a significantly increased risk was observed. In general, risks of HHD were considerably higher than the risks of heart failure.

Conclusions: Regarding the high prevalence of traffic noise from various sources, even low risk increases for frequent diseases are relevant for the population as a whole. (C) 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Harvard Citation style: Seidler, A., Wagner, M., Schubert, M., Droege, P., Roemer, K., Pons-Kuehnemann, J., et al. (2016) Aircraft, road and railway traffic noise as risk factors for heart failure and hypertensive heart disease-A case-control study based on secondary data, International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 219(8), pp. 749-758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.09.012

APA Citation style: Seidler, A., Wagner, M., Schubert, M., Droege, P., Roemer, K., Pons-Kuehnemann, J., Swart, E., Zeeb, H., & Hegewald, J. (2016). Aircraft, road and railway traffic noise as risk factors for heart failure and hypertensive heart disease-A case-control study based on secondary data. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 219(8), 749-758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.09.012