Study shows noise from traffic could increase risk of hypertension

A recent study suggests that being around noise from traffic could increase the risk of hypertension. According to the study, the risk rises in direct proportion to the "dose" of noise. Even after taking into account exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine particles, these correlations were still present.

The researchers at the American College of Cardiology, US, found this through a prospective study, conducted using UK Biobank data from more than 240,000 people, aged 40 to 69 years, without hypertension at baseline. Over a median period of 8.1 years, the scientists followed up with the participants for data on how many people developed hypertension.

They estimated road traffic noise based on the residential address and the Common Noise Assessment Method, a European modelling tool, they said in the study. The scientists also found that people who had high exposure to both traffic noise and air pollution had the highest hypertension risk, showing that air pollution may play a role as well.

"We were a little surprised that the association between road traffic noise and hypertension was robust even after adjustment for air pollution," said Jing Huang, lead author of the study.

"It is essential to explore the independent effects of road traffic noise, rather than the total environment," said Huang. The authors suggested policymaking that may alleviate the adverse impacts of road traffic noise, such as setting stricter noise guidelines and enforcement, improving road conditions and urban design, and investing in advanced technology in quieter vehicles.

Studies to understand the pathophysiological means through which hypertension develops from road noise are underway. The study is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

With PTI inputs