Authors:
Anja zur Nieden | Justus Liebig University Giessen | Germany
Doreen Ziedorn | Justus Liebig University Giessen | Germany
Karin Römer | Justus Liebig University Giessen | Germany
Jan Spilski | University of Kaiserslautern | Germany
Dirk Schreckenberg | ZEUS GmbH | Germany
Ulrich Möhler | Moehler+Partner Ingenieure AG | Germany
Susanne Harpel | Justus Liebig University Giessen | Germany
Thomas Eikmann, Prof. Dr. | Justus Liebig University Giessen | Germany
Based on the concept that noise may trigger repeatedly unavoidable autonomous physiological reactions, which each can cause an increase of blood pressure (BP), the blood pressure monitoring of the NORAH study examined the effects of chronic aircraft noise on self-measured blood pressure (SBPM). Study region included areas within the 40 dB(A) equivalent continuous sound level contours of aircraft noise for day and night-time, targeting on voluntary adults residing in the defined region. Nocturnal aircraft noise exposure was assigned to participants’ addresses. Telemedical blood pressure devices were issued for SBPM. Questionnaires with reference to current health, medications, lifestyle, individual factors, and noise sensitivity were completed. After being trained, participants performed 2 daily measurements for 21 days. Whereas multiple regressions reveal a statistically non-significant tendency of association of BP with nocturnal continuous sound levels (b=0.10; 95%CI [-0.02;0.21]) the model for systolic BP (n=844) including mean LpA,max,22-06h, adjusted for age, gender, social status, tobacco smoke, and physical activity shows a marginal noise-related increase in systolic BP (b=0.11); 95%CI [0.02;0.20]).