Environmental noise exposure and cardiovascular diseases in a Shanghai cohort

Little is known about the impact of environmental noise on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in low- and middle-income countries, where high population density and complex sources of noise are prevalent. This study aimed to explore associations of environmental noise with CVDs and cardiovascular risk factors.

27,444 participants aged 18-74 years were included in this study. Noise exposure was estimated using a land use regression model. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were used to assess the associations of noise with three CVDs (hypertension, coronary heart diseases [CHDs], and stroke) and nine cardiovascular risk factors (systolic and diastolic blood pressure [SBP and DBP], mean arterial pressure [MAP], fasting blood glucose [FBG], glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c], low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein [HDL-C], triglyceride [TG], and total cholesterol). We further explored the mediating effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the associations between noise and CVDs.

An interquartile range (5.90 dB[A]) increase in noise was associated with a 24 % (odds ratios [OR] = 1.24, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.19, 1.30), 18 % (OR = 1.18, 95 % CI: 1.08, 1.30), and 12 % (OR = 1.12, 95 % CI: 1.01, 1.25) higher risk of hypertension, CHDs, and stroke, respectively. The associations between noise exposure and hypertension were more pronounced among males, individuals aged > 59 years, or those with lower educational attainment. Noise exposure was associated with higher SBP, DBP, MAP, FBG, HbA1c, and TG, and lower HDL-C. The associations between noise and CVDs were partially mediated by alterations in FBG, HbA1c, TG, HDL-C, and body mass index.

Long-term environmental noise exposure may have detrimental impacts on cardiovascular health, underscoring the need for public health strategies to mitigate noise pollution in China.