Traffic noise and cardiovascular health in Sweden: The roadside study

Long-term exposure to traffic noise has been suggested to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, few studies have been performed in the general population and on railway noise. This study aimed to investigate the cardiovascular effects of living near noisy roads and railways. T...

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Main Authors: Charlotta Eriksson, Mats E Nilsson, Saskia M Willers, Lars Gidhagen, Tom Bellander, Göran Pershagen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2012-01-01
Series:Noise and Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.noiseandhealth.org/article.asp?issn=1463-1741;year=2012;volume=14;issue=59;spage=140;epage=147;aulast=Eriksson
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author Charlotta Eriksson
Mats E Nilsson
Saskia M Willers
Lars Gidhagen
Tom Bellander
Göran Pershagen
author_facet Charlotta Eriksson
Mats E Nilsson
Saskia M Willers
Lars Gidhagen
Tom Bellander
Göran Pershagen
author_sort Charlotta Eriksson
collection DOAJ
description Long-term exposure to traffic noise has been suggested to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, few studies have been performed in the general population and on railway noise. This study aimed to investigate the cardiovascular effects of living near noisy roads and railways. This cross-sectional study comprised 25,851 men and women, aged 18-80 years, who had resided in Sweden for at least 5 years. All subjects participated in a National Environmental Health Survey, performed in 2007, in which they reported on health, annoyance reactions and environmental factors. Questionnaire data on self-reported doctor′s diagnosis of hypertension and/or CVD were used as outcomes. Exposure was assessed as Traffic Load (millions of vehicle kilometres per year) within 500 m around each participant′s residential address. For a sub-population (n = 2498), we also assessed road traffic and railway noise in L den at the dwelling façade. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess Prevalence Odds Ratios (POR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). No statistically significant associations were found between Traffic Load and self-reported hypertension or CVD. In the sub-population, there was no association between road traffic noise and the outcomes; however, an increased risk of CVD was suggested among subjects exposed to railway noise ≥50 dB(A); POR 1.55 (95% CI 1.00-2.40). Neither Traffic Load nor road traffic noise was, in this study, associated with self-reported cardiovascular outcomes. However, there was a borderline-significant association between railway noise and CVD. The lack of association for road traffic may be due to methodological limitations.
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spelling doaj.art-48785880b300402ebac6423fe367d8d52022-12-22T03:31:22ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsNoise and Health1463-17411998-40302012-01-01145914014710.4103/1463-1741.99864Traffic noise and cardiovascular health in Sweden: The roadside studyCharlotta ErikssonMats E NilssonSaskia M WillersLars GidhagenTom BellanderGöran PershagenLong-term exposure to traffic noise has been suggested to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, few studies have been performed in the general population and on railway noise. This study aimed to investigate the cardiovascular effects of living near noisy roads and railways. This cross-sectional study comprised 25,851 men and women, aged 18-80 years, who had resided in Sweden for at least 5 years. All subjects participated in a National Environmental Health Survey, performed in 2007, in which they reported on health, annoyance reactions and environmental factors. Questionnaire data on self-reported doctor′s diagnosis of hypertension and/or CVD were used as outcomes. Exposure was assessed as Traffic Load (millions of vehicle kilometres per year) within 500 m around each participant′s residential address. For a sub-population (n = 2498), we also assessed road traffic and railway noise in L den at the dwelling façade. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess Prevalence Odds Ratios (POR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). No statistically significant associations were found between Traffic Load and self-reported hypertension or CVD. In the sub-population, there was no association between road traffic noise and the outcomes; however, an increased risk of CVD was suggested among subjects exposed to railway noise ≥50 dB(A); POR 1.55 (95% CI 1.00-2.40). Neither Traffic Load nor road traffic noise was, in this study, associated with self-reported cardiovascular outcomes. However, there was a borderline-significant association between railway noise and CVD. The lack of association for road traffic may be due to methodological limitations.http://www.noiseandhealth.org/article.asp?issn=1463-1741;year=2012;volume=14;issue=59;spage=140;epage=147;aulast=ErikssonAir pollutioncardiovascular diseasecommunity noiseepidemiologyhypertension
spellingShingle Charlotta Eriksson
Mats E Nilsson
Saskia M Willers
Lars Gidhagen
Tom Bellander
Göran Pershagen
Traffic noise and cardiovascular health in Sweden: The roadside study
Noise and Health
Air pollution
cardiovascular disease
community noise
epidemiology
hypertension
title Traffic noise and cardiovascular health in Sweden: The roadside study
title_full Traffic noise and cardiovascular health in Sweden: The roadside study
title_fullStr Traffic noise and cardiovascular health in Sweden: The roadside study
title_full_unstemmed Traffic noise and cardiovascular health in Sweden: The roadside study
title_short Traffic noise and cardiovascular health in Sweden: The roadside study
title_sort traffic noise and cardiovascular health in sweden the roadside study
topic Air pollution
cardiovascular disease
community noise
epidemiology
hypertension
url http://www.noiseandhealth.org/article.asp?issn=1463-1741;year=2012;volume=14;issue=59;spage=140;epage=147;aulast=Eriksson
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AT larsgidhagen trafficnoiseandcardiovascularhealthinswedentheroadsidestudy
AT tombellander trafficnoiseandcardiovascularhealthinswedentheroadsidestudy
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