Dataset Information

Long-term aircraft noise exposure and risk of hypertension in postmenopausal women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Studies of the association between aircraft noise and hypertension are complicated by inadequate control for potential confounders and a lack of longitudinal assessments, and existing evidence is inconclusive.

Objectives

We evaluated the association between long-term aircraft noise exposure and risk of hypertension among post-menopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative Clinical Trials, an ongoing prospective U.S.

Cohort

Methods

Day-night average (DNL) and night equivalent sound levels (L_night) were modeled for 90 U.S. airports from 1995 to 2010 in 5-year intervals using the Aviation Environmental Design Tool and linked to participant geocoded addresses from 1993 to 2010. Participants with modeled exposures ≥45 A-weighted decibels (dB [A]) were considered exposed, and those outside of 45 dB(A) who also did not live in close proximity to unmodeled airports were considered unexposed. Hypertension was defined as systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg or inventoried/self-reported antihypertensive medication use. Using time-varying Cox proportional hazards models, we estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for incident hypertension when exposed to DNL or L_night ≥45 versus <45 dB(A), controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral, and environmental/contextual factors.

Results/discussion

There were 18,783 participants with non-missing DNL exposure and 14,443 with non-missing L_night exposure at risk of hypertension. In adjusted models, DNL and L_night ≥45 db(A) were associated with HRs of 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93, 1.08) and 1.06 (95%CI: 0.91, 1.24), respectively. There was no evidence supporting a positive exposure-response relationship, and findings were robust in sensitivity analyses. Indications of elevated risk were seen among certain subgroups, such as those living in areas with lower population density (HR_interaction: 0.84; 95%CI: 0.72, 0.98) or nitrogen dioxide concentrations (HR_interaction: 0.82; 95%CI: 0.71, 0.95), which may indicate lower ambient/road traffic noise. Our findings do not suggest a relationship between aircraft noise and incident hypertension among older women in the U.S., though associations in lower ambient noise settings merit further investigation.

SUBMITTER: Nguyen DD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9845139 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Long-term aircraft noise exposure and risk of hypertension in postmenopausal women.

Nguyen Daniel D DD Whitsel Eric A EA Wellenius Gregory A GA Levy Jonathan I JI Leibler Jessica H JH Grady Stephanie T ST Stewart James D JD Fox Matthew P MP Collins Jason M JM Eliot Melissa N MN Malwitz Andrew A Manson JoAnn E JE Peters Junenette L JL

Environmental research 20221209

<h4>Background</h4>Studies of the association between aircraft noise and hypertension are complicated by inadequate control for potential confounders and a lack of longitudinal assessments, and existing evidence is inconclusive.<h4>Objectives</h4>We evaluated the association between long-term aircraft noise exposure and risk of hypertension among post-menopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative Clinical Trials, an ongoing prospective U.S.<h4>Cohort</h4><h4>Methods</h4>Day-night average (DN ...[more]

PMID: 36502895

Similar Datasets

Project description:ImportancePreterm delivery has been associated with future cardiometabolic disorders in women. However, the long-term risks of chronic hypertension associated with preterm delivery and whether such risks are attributable to familial confounding are unclear. Such knowledge is needed to improve long-term risk assessment, clinical monitoring, and cardiovascular prevention strategies in women.ObjectiveTo examine the long-term risks of chronic hypertension associated with preterm delivery in a large population-based cohort of women.Design, setting, and participantsThis national cohort study assessed all 2 195 989 women in Sweden with a singleton delivery from January 1, 1973, to December 31, 2015. Data analyses were conducted from March 8, 2021, to August 20, 2021.ExposuresPregnancy duration identified from nationwide birth records.Main outcomes and measuresNew-onset chronic hypertension identified from primary care, specialty outpatient, and inpatient diagnoses using administrative data. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) while adjusting for preeclampsia, other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and other maternal factors. Cosibling analyses were assessed for potential confounding by shared familial (genetic and/or environmental) factors.ResultsIn 46.1 million person-years of follow-up, 351 189 of 2 195 989 women (16.0%) were diagnosed with hypertension (mean [SD] age, 55.4 [9.9] years). Within 10 years after delivery, the adjusted HR for hypertension associated with preterm delivery (gestational age <37 weeks) was 1.67 (95% CI, 1.61-1.74) and when further stratified was 2.23 (95% CI, 1.98-2.52) for extremely preterm (22-27 weeks of gestation), 1.85 (95% CI, 1.74-1.97) for moderately preterm (28-33 weeks of gestation), 1.55 (95% CI, 1.48-1.63) for late preterm (34-36 weeks of gestation), and 1.26 (95% CI, 1.22-1.30) for early-term (37-38 weeks of gestation) compared with full-term (39-41 weeks of gestation) delivery. These risks decreased but remained significantly elevated at 10 to 19 years (preterm vs full-term delivery: adjusted HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.36-1.44), 20 to 29 years (preterm vs full-term delivery: adjusted HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.18-1.23), and 30 to 43 years (preterm vs full-term delivery: adjusted HR, 95% CI, 1.12; 1.10-1.14) after delivery. These findings were not explained by shared determinants of preterm delivery and hypertension within families.Conclusions and relevanceIn this large national cohort study, preterm delivery was associated with significantly higher future risks of chronic hypertension. These associations remained elevated at least 40 years later and were largely independent of other maternal and shared familial factors. Preterm delivery should be recognized as a lifelong risk factor for hypertension in women.

Project description:BackgroundHistory of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) among women may be useful to refine atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk assessments. However, future risk of diverse cardiovascular conditions in asymptomatic middle-aged women with prior HDP remains unknown.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to examine the long-term incidence of diverse cardiovascular conditions among middle-aged women with and without prior HDP.MethodsWomen in the prospective, observational UK Biobank age 40 to 69 years who reported ≥1 live birth were included. Noninvasive arterial stiffness measurement was performed in a subset of women. Cox models were fitted to associate HDP with incident cardiovascular diseases. Causal mediation analyses estimated the contribution of conventional risk factors to observed associations.ResultsOf 220,024 women included, 2,808 (1.3%) had prior HDP. The mean age at baseline was 57.4 ± 7.8 years, and women were followed for median 7 years (interquartile range: 6.3 to 7.7 years). Women with HDP had elevated arterial stiffness indexes and greater prevalence of chronic hypertension compared with women without HDP. Overall, 7.0 versus 5.3 age-adjusted incident cardiovascular conditions occurred per 1,000 women-years for women with versus without prior HDP, respectively (p = 0.001). In analysis of time-to-first incident cardiovascular diagnosis, prior HDP was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.3 (95% CI: 1.04 to 1.60; p = 0.02). HDP was associated with greater incidence of CAD (HR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3 to 2.6; p < 0.001), heart failure (HR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.60; p = 0.03), aortic stenosis (HR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.5 to 5.4; p < 0.001), and mitral regurgitation (HR: 5.0; 95% CI: 1.5 to 17.1; p = 0.01). In causal mediation analyses, chronic hypertension explained 64% of HDP's association with CAD and 49% of HDP's association with heart failure.ConclusionsHypertensive disorders of pregnancy are associated with accelerated cardiovascular aging and more diverse cardiovascular conditions than previously appreciated, including valvular heart disease. Cardiovascular risk after HDP is largely but incompletely mediated by development of chronic hypertension.

Project description:ObjectiveTo investigate associations between long term residential exposure to road traffic noise and particulate matter with a diameter <2.5 µm (PM2.5) and infertility in men and women.DesignNationwide prospective cohort study.SettingDenmark.Participants526 056 men and 377 850 women aged 30-45 years, with fewer than two children, cohabiting or married, and residing in Denmark between 2000 and 2017.Main outcome measureIncident infertility in men and women during follow-up in the Danish National Patient Register.ResultsInfertility was diagnosed in 16 172 men and 22 672 women during a mean follow-up of 4.3 years and 4.2 years, respectively. Mean exposure to PM2.5 over five years was strongly associated with risk of infertility in men, with hazard ratios of 1.24 (95% confidence interval 1.18 to 1.30) among men aged 30-36.9 years and 1.24 (1.15 to 1.33) among men aged 37-45 years for each interquartile (2.9 µg/m3) higher PM2.5 after adjustment for sociodemographic variables and road traffic noise. PM2.5 was not associated with infertility in women. Road traffic noise (Lden, most exposed facade of residence) was associated with a higher risk of infertility among women aged 35-45 years, with a hazard ratio of 1.14 (1.10 to 1.18) for each interquartile (10.2 dB) higher five year mean exposure. Noise was not associated with infertility among younger women (30-34.9 years). In men, road traffic noise was associated with higher risk of infertility in the 37-45 age group (1.06, 1.02 to 1.11), but not among those aged 30-36.9 years (0.93, 0.91 to 0.96).ConclusionsPM2.5 was associated with a higher risk of an infertility diagnosis in men, whereas road traffic noise was associated with a higher risk of an infertility diagnosis in women older than 35 years, and potentially in men older than 37 years. If these results are confirmed in future studies, higher fertility could be added to the list of health benefits from regulating noise and air pollution.

Project description:BackgroundWhile the adverse health effects of civil aircraft noise are relatively well studied, impacts associated with more intense and intermittent noise from military aviation have been rarely assessed. In recent years, increased training at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, USA has raised concerns regarding the public health and well-being implications of noise from military aviation.ObjectiveThis study assessed the public health risks of military aircraft noise by developing a systematic workflow that uses acoustic and aircraft operations data to map noise exposure and predict health outcomes at the population scale.MethodsAcoustic data encompassing seven years of monitoring efforts were integrated with flight operations data for 2020-2021 and a Department of Defense noise simulation model to characterize the noise regime. The model produced contours for day-night, nighttime, and 24-h average levels, which were validated by field monitoring and mapped to yield the estimated noise burden. Established thresholds and exposure-response relationships were used to predict the population subject to potential noise-related health effects, including annoyance, sleep disturbance, hearing impairment, and delays in childhood learning.ResultsOver 74,000 people within the area of aircraft noise exposure were at risk of adverse health effects. Of those exposed, substantial numbers were estimated to be highly annoyed and highly sleep disturbed, and several schools were exposed to levels that place them at risk of delay in childhood learning. Noise in some areas exceeded thresholds established by federal regulations for public health, residential land use and noise mitigation action, as well as the ranges of established exposure-response relationships.Impact statementThis study quantified the extensive spatial scale and population health burden of noise from military aviation. We employed a novel GIS-based workflow for relating mapped distributions of aircraft noise exposure to a suite of public health outcomes by integrating acoustic monitoring and simulation data with a dasymetric population density map. This approach enables the evaluation of population health impacts due to past, current, and future proposed military operations. Moreover, it can be modified for application to other environmental noise sources and offers an improved open-source tool to assess the population health implications of environmental noise exposure, inform at-risk communities, and guide efforts in noise mitigation and policy governing noise legislation, urban planning, and land use.

Project description:BackgroundPrevious studies reported an association between transportation noise and self-reported health status (SRHS). They also suggested a mediating role of noise annoyance using conventional statistical methods. These methods are subject to bias in longitudinal studies with time-dependent exposure, mediator and confounding factors. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of aircraft noise annoyance in the effect of aircraft noise on SRHS using a causal inference approach to address time-dependent variables issues.MethodsWe used data from 881 participants in all three visits in the DEBATS longitudinal study conducted around three French airports. Participants over 18 years of age reported their self-perceived health status, aircraft noise annoyance, and noise sensitivity by completing a questionnaire at three visits in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Noise maps were used to estimate aircraft noise levels outside their homes. Marginal structural models with inverse probability weighting were used to estimate the total effect of aircraft noise levels on SRHS and its decomposition into direct and indirect effect through aircraft noise annoyance.ResultsThis study showed a deleterious effect of aircraft noise on SRHS. The odds ratio (OR) corresponding to the total effect and comparing the highest aircraft noise category (≥60 dBA) to the reference category (<50 dBA) was significant (ORpoor/fair_SHRS = 1.25 (95%CI: 1.06 to 2.08)). It also showed no direct effect of aircraft noise levels on SRHS, but an indirect effect through annoyance. This indirect effect increased as aircraft noise levels increased, with a statistically significant OR when comparing the highest noise category (≥60 dBA) to the lowest (<50 dBA) (ORpoor/fair_SHRS = 1.16 (95%CI: 1.03 to 1.52)). Nearly 66% of aircraft noise's effect on SRHS was mediated by aircraft noise annoyance.ConclusionThis study supports the deleterious causal effect of aircraft noise on SRHS. The results highlight the important mediating role of aircraft noise annoyance in the causal pathway from exposure to aircraft noise to poor/fair SRHS.

Project description:BackgroundCommunities with lower socioeconomic status and higher prevalence of racial/ethnic minority populations are often more exposed to environmental pollutants. Although studies have shown associations between aircraft noise and property values and various health outcomes, little is known about how aircraft noise exposures are sociodemographically patterned.ObjectiveOur aim was to describe characteristics of populations exposed to aviation noise by race/ethnicity, education, and income in the United States.MethodsAircraft noise contours characterized as day-night average sound level (DNL) were developed for 90 U.S. airports in 2010 for DNL ≥45 dB(A) in 1-dB(A) increments. We compared characteristics of exposed U.S. Census block groups at three thresholds (≥45, ≥55, and ≥65 dB(A)), assigned on the basis of the block group land area being ≥50% within the threshold, vs. unexposed block groups near study airports. Comparisons were made across block group race/ethnicity, education, and income categories within the study areas (n=4,031-74,253). We performed both multinomial and other various multivariable regression approaches, including models controlling for airport and models with random intercepts specifying within-airport effects and adjusting for airport-level means.ResultsAggregated across multiple airports, block groups with a higher Hispanic population had higher odds of being exposed to aircraft noise. For example, the multinomial analysis showed that a 10-percentage point increase in a block group's Hispanic population was associated with an increased odds ratio of 39% (95% CI: 25%, 54%) of being exposed to ≥65 dB(A) compared with block groups exposed to <45 dB(A). Block groups with higher proportions of residents with only a high school education had higher odds of being exposed to aircraft noise. Results were robust across multiple regression approaches; however, there was substantial heterogeneity across airports.DiscussionThese results suggest that across U.S. airports, there is indication of sociodemographic disparities in noise exposures. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9307.

Dataset Information

Long-term aircraft noise exposure and risk of hypertension in postmenopausal women.

Background

Objectives

Cohort

Methods

Results/discussion

Publications

Long-term aircraft noise exposure and risk of hypertension in postmenopausal women.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets