title: Residential exposure to traffic noise and health-related quality of life--a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have investigated the association between objectively measured traffic noise and health-related quality of life. However, as traffic noise has been associated with both cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and health-issues including sleeping problems, annoyance, and stress, it seems plausible that traffic noise is associated with health-related quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1999 and 2002, a cohort of 38,964 Danes filled in the short form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Residential exposure to road traffic and railway noise was calculated for all historical addresses for 10 years preceding the SF-36, using the Nordic prediction method. Associations between noise exposure and SF-36 summary scales and the eight sub-scales were calculated using general linear models, adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Models adjusted for age, sex and socioeconomic factors showed that a 10 dB higher road traffic noise 1 year preceding SF-36 assessment was associated with a 0.14 lower mental component summary (MCS) score (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.26, -0.01). However, further adjustment for lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, and waist circumference) attenuated the association: (-0.08 (95% CI: -0.20, 0.04)). Exposure to more than 55 dB of railway noise in the same time period was borderline significantly associated with lower MCS. The physical component summary was not associated with traffic noise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests a weak association between traffic noise exposure and the mental health component score of SF-36, which may operate through lifestyle. The magnitude of effect was, however, not clinically relevant.
authors.affiliation: Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roswall
authors.affiliation: Aalborg AF Study Group, Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Høgh
authors.affiliation: Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Pernille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Envold-Bidstrup
authors.affiliation: Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Raaschou-Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ketzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Overvad
authors.affiliation: Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires