Background: Studies on the health effects of aircraft and road traffic noise exposure suggest an increased risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and other conditions affected by stress. Objectives: Our aim was to assess the use of medication for conditions affected by stress in relation to noise from aircraft and road traffic. Methods: Use of prescribed antihypertensives, antacids, anxiolytics, hypnotics, antidepressants and antasthmatics was measured by a cross-sectional survey of 4,861 persons living near airports in six European countries. Exposure was assessed using models with 1dB resolution (5dB for UK road traffic noise) and spatial resolution of 250x250m for aircraft and 10x10m for road traffic noise. Results: We found marked differences between countries in the effect of night-time aircraft noise exposure on antihypertensive use, with elevated odds ratios (ORs) for UK (1.34; 1.14-1.57) and Netherlands (1.19; 1.02-1.38) but not for the other countries. There was an increased risk of taking anxiolytic medication for those exposed to aircraft noise (OR per 10dB: 1.28; 1.04-1.57 for daytime and 1.27; 1.01-1.59 for night-time). We also found an association between exposure to 24hr road traffic noise and the use of antacids by men (1.39; 1.11-1.74) but not women (0.99; 0.78-1.24). Conclusions: Our results suggest an effect of aircraft noise on the use of antihypertensive medication, but this effect did not hold for all countries. Results were more consistent across countries for prescriptions for other stress-related conditions, with increased use of anxiolytics in relation to aircraft noise and antacids in relation to road traffic noise.

Medication use in relation to noise from aircraft and road traffic in six European countries: results of the HYENA study

VIGNA-TAGLIANTI, Federica;
2011-01-01

Abstract

Background: Studies on the health effects of aircraft and road traffic noise exposure suggest an increased risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and other conditions affected by stress. Objectives: Our aim was to assess the use of medication for conditions affected by stress in relation to noise from aircraft and road traffic. Methods: Use of prescribed antihypertensives, antacids, anxiolytics, hypnotics, antidepressants and antasthmatics was measured by a cross-sectional survey of 4,861 persons living near airports in six European countries. Exposure was assessed using models with 1dB resolution (5dB for UK road traffic noise) and spatial resolution of 250x250m for aircraft and 10x10m for road traffic noise. Results: We found marked differences between countries in the effect of night-time aircraft noise exposure on antihypertensive use, with elevated odds ratios (ORs) for UK (1.34; 1.14-1.57) and Netherlands (1.19; 1.02-1.38) but not for the other countries. There was an increased risk of taking anxiolytic medication for those exposed to aircraft noise (OR per 10dB: 1.28; 1.04-1.57 for daytime and 1.27; 1.01-1.59 for night-time). We also found an association between exposure to 24hr road traffic noise and the use of antacids by men (1.39; 1.11-1.74) but not women (0.99; 0.78-1.24). Conclusions: Our results suggest an effect of aircraft noise on the use of antihypertensive medication, but this effect did not hold for all countries. Results were more consistent across countries for prescriptions for other stress-related conditions, with increased use of anxiolytics in relation to aircraft noise and antacids in relation to road traffic noise.
2011
68
7
518
524
http://oem.bmj.com
Aircraft noise; road traffic noise; medication; antihypertensives; anxiolytics; hypnotics; antacids; antasthmatics; antidepressants
Floud, S; Vigna-Taglianti, F; Hansell, A; Blangiardo, M; Houthuijs, D; Breugelmans, O; Cadum, E; Babisch, W; Selander, J; Pershagen, G; Antoniotti, Mc; Pisani, S; Dimakopoulou, K; Haralabidis, As; Velonakis, V; Jarup, L; on behalf of the, HYENA study team.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/79814
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