Association between Noise Pollution and Prevalent Ischemic Heart Disease

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Cardiovascular Epidemiology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Noise pollution is a recognized risk factor for ischemic heart disease (IHD).
• Both noise pollution and IHD are prevalent in Bulgaria, yet their association requires further investigation.
• Previous research has not sufficiently explored the link between noise exposure and IHD in the Bulgarian population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the risk of IHD associated with road traffic noise (Lden).
• To examine the risk of IHD linked to lifetime occupational noise exposure (LONE).
• To analyze these associations within a Bulgarian sample.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 513 residents of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
• Data on diagnosed IHD, LONE, and confounding factors were collected via questionnaire.
• Road traffic noise (Lden) was determined using official noise maps and geocoded addresses; IHD risk was analyzed using log-link Poisson regressions.

Main Results:

• Road traffic noise exposure (Lden ≥ 65 dB) showed a non-significantly higher risk of IHD (RR=1.84) in residents with long-term exposure (≥ 20 years).
• Lifetime occupational noise exposure (LONE) was associated with increased IHD risk (RR=1.76 for any exposure; RR=2.35 for 15-47 years of exposure).
• Sensitivity analyses indicated that the effect of noise on IHD risk was more pronounced in certain subgroups.

Conclusions:

• Road traffic noise exposure (Lden ≥ 65 dB) is associated with a trend towards higher IHD risk, though not statistically significant in this study.
• A consistent association exists between longer duration of lifetime occupational noise exposure and an increased risk of IHD.
• Noise pollution, particularly occupational noise, represents a significant environmental and occupational health concern contributing to cardiovascular disease risk in Bulgaria.