Previous studies have found a close relationship between environmental noise and cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that the risk of ischemic heart disease increases by 8 per cent for every 10 decibels of noise exposure to road traffic.
A large Swiss study published recently in the European Heart Journal suggests that aircraft noise at night is linked to acute cardiovascular deaths among people living near airports, with about 3 per cent of cardiovascular deaths due to aircraft noise at night.
The researchers note that the effects of night-time aircraft noise on acute cardiovascular death are comparable to the effects of anger, excitement, sex and overeating.
The researchers analyzed data from 24,886 cardiovascular deaths near Zurich Airport between 2000 and 2015 and found that among patients who died at night (23:00 — 07:00), exposure to aircraft noise two hours before death was significantly associated with cardiovascular death.
Compared with patients exposed to less than 20 decibels at night, those exposed to 40 to 50 decibels and >50 decibels at night had a 33 percent and 44 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, respectively.
Patients with high levels of exposure to aircraft noise at night had significantly increased risk of death from ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and arrhythmia.
The researchers found that women, people who lived in quieter areas of roads and railways, and people who lived in older homes (built before 1970) were more likely to be affected by aircraft noise at night.
Of the 24,886 patients included in the study, 7,641 died of cardiovascular disease at night.
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