Adults Exposed to Traffic Noise Face a Hidden Heart Risk, Study Finds
Summary
A study of more than 108,000 adults found that higher estimated transportation noise near home was associated with increased development of major cardiovascular risk factors and greater odds of a major heart event. The association was similar in people with healthy and unhealthy sleep patterns, but the researchers said the study does not establish that noise causes heart disease.Key Facts
- Researchers analyzed medical records and lifestyle survey data for 108,051 Massachusetts General Brigham Biobank participants enrolled from 2010 to 2020.
- Participants had a median age of 57, and 58 percent were women.
- Researchers estimated average 24-hour transportation noise near participants’ homes using U.S. Department of Transportation data.
- Noise exposure above 50 decibels was associated with an 8 to 10 percent increase in the development of major cardiovascular risk factors, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.
- The noise measure was also associated with greater odds of a major heart event; high cholesterol had the strongest reported association among the risk factors.
- The reported associations were similar among people with and without sleep disorders or unusually short or long sleep.
- The study considered average noise over 24 hours, so it did not distinguish brief, intense noise from long-term exposure.
- The findings are scheduled for presentation at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Chicago, November 6–9, 2026.
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