Long-term exposure to road traffic noise associated with higher risk of incident HF

Evidence on road traffic noise and heart failure (HF) is limited, and little is known on the potential mediation roles of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), hypertension, or diabetes.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impacts of long-term road traffic noise exposure on the risk of incident HF considering air pollution, and explore the mediations of the previously mentioned diseases.

This prospective study included 424,767 participants without HF at baseline in UK Biobank. The residential-level noise and air pollution exposure was estimated, and the incident HF was identified through linkages with medical records. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate HRs. Furthermore, time-dependent mediation was performed.

Results

During a median 12.5 years of follow-up, 12,817 incident HF were ascertained. The HRs were 1.08 (95% CI: 1.00-1.16) per 10 dB[A] increase in weighted average 24-hour road traffic noise level (Lden), and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.02-1.31) for exposure to Lden >65dB[A] compared with the reference category (Lden ≤55dB[A]), respectively. Furthermore, the strongest combined effects were found in those with both high exposures to road traffic noise and air pollution including fine particles and nitrogen dioxide. Prior AMI before HF within 2 years’ time interval mediated 12.5% of the association of road traffic noise with HF.