title: The association between road traffic noise exposure, annoyance and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between road traffic noise exposure, annoyance caused by different noise sources and validated health indicators in a cohort of 1375 adults from the region of Basel, Switzerland. Road traffic noise exposure for each study participant was determined using modelling, and annoyance from various noise sources was inquired by means of a four-point Likert scale. Regression parameters from multivariable regression models for the von Zerssen score of somatic symptoms (point symptom score increase per annoyance category) showed strongest associations with annoyance from industry noise (2.36, 95% CI: 1.54, 3.17), neighbour noise (1.62, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.06) and road traffic noise (1.53, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.96). Increase in modelled noise exposure by 10 dB(A) resulted in a von Zerssen symptom score increase of 0.47 (95% CI: -0.01, 0.95) units. Subsequent structural equation modelling revealed that the association between physical noise exposure and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is strongly mediated by annoyance and sleep disturbance. This study elucidates the complex interplay of different factors for the association between physical noise exposure and HRQOL.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstr. 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland. harris.heritier@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Harris
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Héritier
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstr. 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland. danielle.vienneau@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vienneau
authors.affiliation: Krebsliga Schweiz, 3001 Bern, Switzerland. patrizia.frei@krebsliga.ch.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frei
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstr. 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland. ikenna.eze@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Ikenna C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Eze
authors.affiliation: Federal Office for the Environment, 3003 Bern, Switzerland. mark.brink@bafu.admin.ch.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstr. 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland. nicole.probst@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Probst-Hensch
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstr. 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland. martin.roosli@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Röösli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology