Associations of road traffic noise with cardiovascular diseases and mortality: Longitudinal results from UK Biobank and meta-analysis

Background: Epidemiological evidence suggests potential associations of road traffic noise exposure with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, but uncertainty remains. Objectives: We examined the association of road traffic noise with the risk of CVD and mortality in a large longitudinal cohort study and meta-analysis. Methods: We analyzed 342, 566 participants from the UK Biobank who were free of CVD at baseline and had complete covariate data. We also performed a meta-analysis of road traffic noise effects on CVD and mortality by including qualified cohort studies published before April 2021. Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, the odds for the risk of stroke, CVD, and all-cause mortality increased by 1.07 (95%CI: 1.01-1.13, P = 0.019), 1.13 (95%CI: 1.04-1.22, P = 0.003) and 1.08 (95%CI: 1.04-1.12, P < 0.001) times per 10 dB increases in road traffic noise, respectively. Among men, high road traffic noise exposure was significantly associated with an increased risk in stroke (HR = 1.08 per 10 dB increase, 95% CI: 1.00-1.16, P = 0.043), CVD (HR = 1.12 per 10 dB increase, 95%CI: 1.02-1.23, P = 0.020) and all-cause mortality (HR = 1.12 per 10 dB increase, 95%CI: 1.07-1.17 P < 0.001), whereas we did not find a significant association in women. The meta-analysis showed that road traffic noise exposure was significantly associated with a high risk of stroke (risk ratio [RR]: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.11), CVD mortality (RR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.05), all-cause mortality (RR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.07). Conclusions: This study provides more evidence of increased risk of stroke, CVD, and all-cause mortality in association with exposure to road traffic noise pollution, especially in men.

Automated summary

This study, using a large longitudinal cohort study and meta-analysis, found an association between road traffic noise exposure and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Especially in men, high levels of road traffic noise exposure were significantly associated with increased risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality.