Ipertensione e rumore nelle aree aeroportuali: lo studio HYENA

[Machine translation] Foreword. An increasing number of people are exposed to airport and road noise. Hypertension It is the greatest risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in the population over 45 years of age and also small increases in risk have a big impact on the health status of exposed populations. Materials and methods. The HYENA study, funded by the EU and carried out between 2003 and 2006, interviewed The blood pressure of 4861 people between 45 and 70 years old who have lived for at least 5 years is measured near 6 Major airports in as many European countries: United Kingdom (London Heathrow Airport), Germany (Berlin Teget Airport), Holland (Amsterdam Schipol Airport), Sweden (Arlanda and Stockholm Bromma), Greece (Athens Spata Airport) and Italy (Milan Malpensa Airport). They were collect information on the health status of subjects (including the use of medications), on social and economic status and on lifestyle habits. On 2 different subgroups of subjects (50 per country), they were also carried out a) continuous measurements for 24 hours of blood pressure and noise in the home b) salivary cortisol determinations. Results. The preliminary results of the study can be summarized as follows: • The percentage of hypertensive patients in the study areas (adjusted by age and sex in the standard population) European) was higher than expected and was 48.8% in the United Kingdom, 54.6% in Germany, 51.9% in the Netherlands, 52.0% in Sweden, 57.0% in Greece and 52.1% in Italy. • A statistically significant relationship was found between exposure to noise, both from traffic both vehicle and airport, and risk of high blood pressure, with greater evidence among men. • The increase in the risk of hypertension, as measured by the study, is 14% per increase of 10 decibels (OR 1.143, 95% I.C. 1.014-1.288) with regard to nighttime noise, the most dangerous result. • The noise-hypertension relationship was greater for road traffic and among men, with a risk measured by 54% in the category of people living in areas with the highest exposure (> 65 decibels). • The risk of high blood pressure has been found especially at airports operating for a longer period of weather (London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Stockholm). In the areas surrounding Athens and Malpensa airports, (operating as international airports for about 5 years), this risk has not been detected to a similar extent, Assuming that stable increases in blood pressure require exposure times to airport noise (especially at night) over 5 years old. • In the areas studied, there was no significant risk of myocardial infarction in relation to noise. • In women exposed to airborne noise, there was a significant increase in salivary cortisol in the morning (stress hormone that acts on increasing blood pressure). • People who live near Athens and Malpensa airports are more annoyed by airborne noise compared to those who live at the other European airports considered in the study: the perception of Noise changes with increasing exposure time. • Both the greater objective exposure to noise (noise level) and the subjective exposure (annoyance reported) are associated with the presence of hypertension. Discussion and conclusions. High blood pressure is the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and it is determined by various factors, especially dietary and personal factors, but in which they are also involved to a lesser extent employment and environmental factors. Hypertension is more common in older people, including obese subjects, among smokers, among drinkers of alcoholic beverages, in males, in sedentary people. Lo The HYENA study today adds the indication that even ambient noise, in particular road noise and night airport, is a significant risk factor to consider. The proportion of people annoyed by Airborne noise was higher than expected based on European noise recommendations. The The result has significant implications for the environmental noise protection policies of various European countries.