Subjective and objective personal noise exposure and hypertension: an epidemiologic approach.

OBJECTIVES: Evidence for an association between chronic noise exposure and hypertension has been observed in several studies but suffers from limitations like crude exposure assessment. In this analysis, an association between noise exposure and hypertension was investigated using personal noise dosimeters.
METHODS: Study population included 628 children (8-12 years of age), 632 adolescents (13-17 years of age) and 482 adults (18-65 years of age). Response was highest in children (61%) followed by adolescents (58%) and adults (40%). Noise exposure was assessed using personal dosimeter measurements over 24 h. In addition, subjective assessment of "positive" and "negative" experienced noise was recorded using a "noise diary". Estimates of association between noise and hypertension were obtained by logistic regression analysis, stratifying for age group and adjusting for sex.
RESULTS: A statistically significant association between night-time noise exposure and hypertension was observed in the group of adolescents and adults (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.04-2.13). Regarding subjective exposure, a non-significant trend was seen in this age group between negative noise annoyance during daytime and hypertension. For children, neither a statistically significant association between objective nor subjective exposure and hypertension could be observed.
CONCLUSIONS: Using objective personal measurements, an association between noise exposure, particularly during night-time, and hypertension could be detected among adolescents and adults. Differentiating between night-time and daytime exposure and considering subjective annoyance through presumably "positive" versus "negative" experienced noise can be important aspects in future studies. Moreover, dosimeter measurements over longer periods of time could be carried out to obtain an even better exposure assessment.