title: Association between Noise Pollution and Prevalent Ischemic Heart Disease.
abstract: Noise pollution is considered a risk factor for ischemic heart disease (IHD). Both are highly prevalent in Bulgaria, but their association has not been studied sufficiently.
  
  
  
  The aim of the present study was to examine the risk of IHD associated with road traffic (Lden) and lifetime occupational noise exposure (LONE) in a Bulgarian sample.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 513 residents of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. A questionnaire asked about doctor-diagnosed IHD, LONE and confounding factors. Lden was derived from official noise map after geocoding participants' addresses. In log-link Poisson regressions we investigated the relative risks of prevalent IHD. Sensitivity analyses examined subgroup differences.
  
  
  
  Lden ≥ 65 dB was associated with higher risk (RR=1.84, 95% CI: 0.61, 5.57) of IHD in long-term residents (≥ 20 years). LONE was associated with RR=1.76 (0.82, 3.78) for ever-exposed; and RR=2.35 (1.00, 5.52) for 15 - 47 years exposure.
  
  
  
  Exposure to Lden≥65 dB was associated with non-significantly higher risk of IHD. Longer LONE was consistently associated with higher risk. In some subgroups the effect of noise was more pronounced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Ecological Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
authors.forename: Angel M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dzhambov
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management and Healthcare Economics, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv,
  Bulgaria
authors.forename: Donka D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Dimitrova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002031:Bulgaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009622:Noise; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D006178:Romani People; D055815:Young Adult