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A Population-Based Study on Nighttime Road Traffic Noise and Insomnia
Jorunn Evandt1, Bente Oftedal1, Norun Hjertager Krog1
1Domain for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Air Pollution and Noise, Norwegian Institute of Public Health,Oslo, Norway.
Sleep
|April 2, 2017
Summary
Nighttime road traffic noise is linked to increased difficulties falling asleep and waking up too early. This suggests that sleep quality may be negatively impacted by traffic noise exposure.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Sleep Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Nighttime road traffic noise is a pervasive environmental stressor.
- Exposure to noise pollution can negatively affect sleep patterns and overall health.
- Understanding the relationship between traffic noise and insomnia symptoms is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between nighttime road traffic noise and self-reported insomnia symptoms.
- To examine the relationship between traffic noise exposure and sleep medication use.
- To quantify the risk of insomnia symptoms associated with varying levels of traffic noise.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the population-based Health and Environment in Oslo (HELMILO) study (n = 13019).
- Assessed insomnia symptoms (difficulty falling asleep, nighttime awakenings, early morning awakenings) and sleep medication use via questionnaires.
- Modeled nighttime noise levels (Lnight) and assigned them to participant addresses, using logistic regression for analysis.
Main Results:
- A 5-dB increase in nighttime traffic noise was associated with a 5% increased odds of difficulty falling asleep (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.09).
- Similarly, increased traffic noise showed associations with nighttime awakenings (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00-1.08) and waking up too early (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.11).
- No statistically significant association was found between traffic noise exposure and self-reported sleep medication use.
Conclusions:
- Nighttime road traffic noise is significantly associated with specific insomnia symptoms, including difficulty falling asleep and early morning awakenings, in an adult population.
- These findings highlight the potential for compromised sleep quantity and quality in individuals residing in noisy urban environments.
- The study underscores the importance of considering traffic noise as a modifiable environmental factor impacting sleep health.
Keywords:
directed acyclic graphenvironmental epidemiologyinsomniapopulation-based studysleep disturbancesleep medication usetraffic noiseMore Related Videos
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