Association of road traffic noise exposure and prevalence of coronary artery disease: A cross-sectional study in North India

Epidemiological studies have established that noise from transportation sources exceeding the safe limits elevates the risk for cardiovascular diseases. The results however have remained heterogeneous. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between road traffic noise exposure and prevalence of coronary artery disease besides sub-group analysis was performed for identifying the most susceptible population. Traffic noise exposure was measured using the L(den) metric in both continuous and categorical forms. A cross-sectional study was performed and information about sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors was collected. Noise level < 60 dB(A) representing the quiet areas was used as the reference group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to estimate the odds for self-reported coronary artery disease concerning road traffic noise after adjusting for confounding variables. The residents living in noisy areas were found to have a 2.25 times higher risk per 5 dB(A) increment in the noise levels (95% CI = 1.38 to 3.67). Males were at a higher risk of CAD (OR = 2.61; 95% CI = 1.84 to 3.72) as compared to females (OR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.37–3.13). The subgroup analysis revealed that being sensitive to noise, belonging to a higher age group, reporting higher stress levels, and poor sleep quality were associated with higher risk. The study also provides evidence that exposure to noise levels greater than 60 dB(A) is associated with the prevalence of coronary artery disease in adults. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-021-14582-2.