NOISE AND ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION. A NOISY RISK FACTOR FOR THE SILENT KILLER DISEASE

Objective: In recent decades, anthropogenic activities, including urbanization, construction, industry, agriculture, deforestation, transportation, and the building of dams, have significantly impacted ecosystems and contributed to environmental degradation. Specifically, noise, ambient temperature and humidity that are often referred as forgotten pollutants have gained increasing recognition as critical factors affecting environmental quality and public health. However, it remains unclear whether prolonged exposure to these factors increases the hypertension (HTN) risk. The aim of the present study was to examine the correlation of noise, air temperature and atmospheric humidity with blood pressure (BP) among patients without HTN.Design and method: A total of 40 patients (20 men and 20 women) underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Environmental noise, ambient temperature and humidity were recorded using an external standardized portable device. Results: ABPM readings showed that 24-hour systolic BP was 131.5±14.8 mmHg, 24-hour diastolic BP was 80.5±11.0 mmHg and 24-hour mean BP was 94.8±11.2 mmHg. According to the recording device, the participants were exposed to 51.6±5.1 dBA of noise, 32.5±3.9oC of temperature and 44.2±7.1% of humidity. Statistical analysis revealed a moderate positive correlation between noise and BP. Nonetheless, a weak negative correlation was observed between ambient temperature and humidity with BP. Conclusions: The current study demonstrated a moderate positive correlation between noise and BP suggesting that noise might be a causative factor of arterial HTN. In addition, a weak negative correlation was identified between ambient temperature and humidity with BP. These findings highlight the potential role of environmental factors, particularly noise, as modifiable risk factors for HTN. Future public health policies should consider noise reduction and climate adaptation measures to improve cardiovascular outcomes and enhance the quality of life.