The associations between noise annoyance and psychological distress with blood pressure in children and adolescents: The CASPIAN-V Study

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Noise Annoyance as a Determinant of Physiological Changes Linked to Disease Promotion

This systematic review investigates the certainty of evidence (CoE) regarding noise annoyance as a determinant of biological changes known to contribute to disease development. We searched PubMed MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, and CINAHL for English-language comparative studies conducted on humans of any age from 1 January 1940, to 28 August 2023. Further, studies that provided quantitative data on the relationship between noise annoyance and biomarkers of interest were included. Where possible, random-effects meta-analyses were used to calculate the odds ratios of noise annoyance on biomarkers and biological conditions considered to be risk factors for developing health effects. The risk of bias of individual studies was assessed using the Risk of Bias of Non-randomized Studies of Exposures (ROBINS-E) instrument. The CoE for each outcome was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The search identified 23 primary studies reporting on relevant biomarkers. Although some studies and pooled estimates suggest a possible association between noise annoyance and biological measures, the CoE overall is very low due to concerns with the risk of bias, inconsistency, and imprecision in the estimates of effects. In the context of environmental impact assessment, where guidelines aim to mitigate the prevalence of populations experiencing a high level of noise annoyance, our results suggest that such practices should be grounded in the understanding that annoyance is health-relevant because it reflects an undesirable reaction to noise, rather than a precursor to chronic physical health conditions.

[Air pollution, noise and hypertension : Partners in crime]

Air pollution and traffic noise are two important environmental risk factors that endanger health in urban societies and often act together as "partners in crime". Although air pollution and noise often co-occur in urban environments, they have typically been studied separately, with numerous studies documenting consistent effects of individual exposure on blood pressure. In the following review article, we examine the epidemiology of air pollution and noise, especially regarding the cardiovascular risk factor arterial hypertension and the underlying pathophysiology. Both environmental stressors have been shown to lead to endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, pronounced vascular inflammation, disruption of circadian rhythms and activation of the autonomic nervous system, all of which promote the development of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. From a societal and political perspective, there is an urgent need to point out the potential dangers of air pollution and traffic noise in the American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) prevention guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on prevention. Therefore, an essential goal for the future is to raise awareness of environmental risk factors as important and, in particular, preventable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Preventing Excessive Noise Exposure in Infants, Children, and Adolescents

Noise exposure is a major cause of hearing loss in adults. Yet, noise affects people of all ages, and noise-induced hearing loss is also a problem for young people. Sensorineural hearing loss caused by noise and other toxic exposures is usually irreversible. Environmental noise, such as traffic noise, can affect learning, physiologic parameters, and quality of life. Children and adolescents have unique vulnerabilities to noise. Children may be exposed beginning in NICUs and well-baby nurseries, at home, at school, in their neighborhoods, and in recreational settings. Personal listening devices are increasingly used, even by small children. Infants and young children cannot remove themselves from noisy situations and must rely on adults to do so, children may not recognize hazardous noise exposures, and teenagers generally do not understand the consequences of high exposure to music from personal listening devices or attending concerts and dances. Environmental noise exposure has disproportionate effects on underserved communities. In this report and the accompanying policy statement, common sources of noise and effects on hearing at different life stages are reviewed. Noise-abatement interventions in various settings are discussed. Because noise exposure often starts in infancy and its effects result mainly from cumulative exposure to loud noise over long periods of time, more attention is needed to its presence in everyday activities starting early in life. Listening to music and attending dances, concerts, and celebratory and other events are sources of joy, pleasure, and relaxation for many people. These situations, however, often result in potentially harmful noise exposures. Pediatricians can potentially lessen exposures, including promotion of safer listening, by raising awareness in parents, children, and teenagers. Noise exposure is underrecognized as a serious public health issue in the United States, with exposure limits enforceable only in workplaces and not for the general public, including children and adolescents. Greater awareness of noise hazards is needed at a societal level.

Detecting and Managing Childhood Onset Hypertension in Africa: A Call to Action

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review recent evidence on childhood hypertension across Africa, identifying knowledge gaps, challenges and priorities, and highlight clinical perspectives in managing primary hypertension.

RECENT FINDINGS

Only 15 of the 54 African countries reported on absolute blood pressure (BP) measures, elevated BP, pre- and/or hypertension. The reported hypertension prevalence ranged between 0.0 and 38.9%, while elevated BP and/or pre-hypertnesion ranged from 2.7 to 50.5%. Childhood BP nomograms are lacking across Africa and the rates of hypertension were based on guidelines developed in countries with the lowest to no number of children from African ancestry. The recent studies across Africa also showed little to no detail when reporting BP specific methodology. No recent data informing the use or effectiveness of antihypertensive agents in children and adolesents are available. Childhood hypertension is on the rise, while data from Africa remains vastly under-represented. Collaborative research, resources, and policies need to be strengthened in addressing the growing public health concern of childhood onset hypertension on this continent.

Impact of Environmental Factors on Hypertension and Associated Cardiovascular Disease

Hypertension is the primary cause of cardiovascular diseases and is responsible for nearly 9 million deaths worldwide annually. Increasing evidence indicates that in addition to pathophysiologic processes, numerous environmental factors, such as geographic location, lifestyle choices, socioeconomic status, and cultural practices, influence the risk, progression, and severity of hypertension, even in the absence of genetic risk factors. In this review, we discuss the impact of some environmental determinants on hypertension. We focus on clinical data from large population studies and discuss some potential molecular and cellular mechanisms. We highlight how these environmental determinants are interconnected, as small changes in one factor might affect others, and further affect cardiovascular health. In addition, we discuss the crucial impact of socioeconomic factors and how these determinants influence diverse communities with economic disparities. Finally, we address opportunities and challenges for new research to address gaps in knowledge on understanding molecular mechanisms whereby environmental factors influence development of hypertension and associated cardiovascular disease.

Noise and Air Pollution as Risk Factors for Hypertension: Part I-Epidemiology

Traffic noise and air pollution are 2 major environmental health risk factors in urbanized societies that often occur together. Despite cooccurrence in urban settings, noise and air pollution have generally been studied independently, with many studies reporting a consistent effect on blood pressure for individual exposures. In the present reviews, we will discuss the epidemiology of air pollution and noise effects on arterial hypertension and cardiovascular disease (part I) and the underlying pathophysiology (part II). Both environmental stressors have been found to cause endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, vascular inflammation, circadian dysfunction, and activation of the autonomic nervous system, thereby facilitating the development of hypertension. We also discuss the effects of interventions, current gaps in knowledge, and future research tasks. From a societal and policy perspective, the health effects of both air pollution and traffic noise are observed well below the current guideline recommendations. To this end, an important goal for the future is to increase the acceptance of environmental risk factors as important modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, given their substantial impact on the burden of cardiovascular disease.

Effects of brief exposure to campus environment on students' physiological and psychological health

Experiences in natural environments can enhance human wellbeing and promote the recovery of physiological and psychological health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, university students' activity off-campus was limited, thus, the campus environment was particularly important for the recovery of students' physiological and psychological health. Although the benefits of sustained natural exposure are obvious for people's physiological and psychological health, the effects of brief exposure on physiological and psychological are unclear. In the present study, four types of campus environments, including square space, dense forest space, sparse forest space, and waterfront space, were selected to explore the transient recovery effects of different types of campus environments. Sixty university students were recruited, measuring their systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate as physical parameters to assess stress recovery. Respondents also reported scores about their personal feelings in questionnaires to evaluate their psychological states. Both physiological and psychological indicators responded to the brief natural exposure (5 min), and physiological and psychological health was restored. However, only the recovery amounts of psychological indicators were significantly different in waterfront space, dense forest space, and sparse forest space. These results indicate that being compare with other spaces, the brief exposure in the waterfront space was the most beneficial to students' psychological health recovery. This recovery was attributed to the great role played by the sense of escape, but after the brief exposure, the attraction and compatibility of the environment would hinder the psychological health recovery. In conclusion, according to tests on both physiological and psychological aspects, the waterfront environment on campus is the best choice for students' transient health recovery.

Household disorder and blood pressure in mother-child dyads: A brief report

High blood pressure (BP) is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although factors outside the home, such as crime and noise, have been associated with high BP in women and children, it is unknown if disorder within the home (household disorder) influences BP. We tested the hypothesis that women and children with more household disorder would have higher BP, independent of age, race, sodium intake, and body mass index (BMI). This study was a secondary analysis of data from mother-child dyads (n = 216). Mothers were 87% African American, 34 ± 5 years old, with BMI 33.59 ± 9.43 kg/m². Children were 7 ± 2 (range: 4-10) years of age with BMI z score 0.60 ± 2.07. Household disorder was measured by the Confusion Hubbub and Order Scale. Mother-child dyads were assessed for weight, height, BP (adults), BP percentile (children), energy intake, and sodium intake. The relationship between household disorder and BP was evaluated using Pearson's partial correlation coefficients. In fully adjusted models, household disorder was positively associated with systolic BP for mothers (r = 0.15, p < .05) and tended to be positively associated with diastolic BP (r = 0.11, p = .10). For the children, household disorder was not associated with systolic or diastolic BP percentile. This study's results suggest that household disorder is positively associated with higher BP in adult women, but not their children. Nevertheless, these data suggest that interventions to address household disorder could benefit maternal BP and potentially improve long-term CVD outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).