title: Close proximity to busy roads increases the prevalence and onset of cardiac disease--Results from RHINE Tartu.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze whether living close to a busy road would increase the risk of having cardiac disease and hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used cross-sectional longitudinal questionnaire data from the RHINE study for Tartu in 2000/2001 and 2011/2012. Home addresses of the respondents were geocoded and traffic data obtained from annually conducted traffic counts in Tartu. Relationships between proximity to a busy road and self-reported cardiac disease and hypertension were analyzed with multiple logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In terms of total traffic (≥10,000 vehicles per day) within a 150-m zone of a busy road, the odds ratio (OR) for prevalence of cardiac disease was significant in 2000/2001 (1.91, 95% CI 1.15-3.16) and 2011/2012 (1.58, 95% CI 1.01-2.47). Prevalence of hypertension was significant only in 2011/2012 (1.61, 95% CI 1.08-2.39). In terms of heavy duty vehicle traffic (≥500 vehicles per day) within a 150-m zone in 2000/2001, the OR was 1.52 (95% CI 1.04-2.24) and 1.49 (95% CI 1.02-2.17) respectively for the prevalence of cardiac disease and hypertension. In 2011/2012 no significant relationship between heavy duty vehicle traffic and cardiac disease or hypertension was found. We also saw a significant relationship between total traffic and the onset of cardiac disease (OR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.07-3.87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that living closer than 150 m to a busy road can increase the odds of having cardiac disease and hypertension, which should be taken into account in city planning.
authors: Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. Electronic address: Mihkel.Pindus@ut.ee.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Pindus
authors: Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Orru
authors: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Modig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: Cardiac disease; Odds ratio; Onset; Prevalence; Traffic proximity