Environmental noise exposure and cardiovascular diseases in a Shanghai cohort

BACKGROUND: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.