Higher Aircraft Noise Exposure Linked to Poor Heart Structure and Function
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2025 -- Higher aircraft noise exposure is associated with adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Constantin-Cristian Topriceanu, M.D., from University College London, and colleagues examined the impact of aircraft noise on heart structure and function using data from 3,635 U.K. Biobank participants living near four major U.K. airports who had cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging starting from 2014 and did not report hearing difficulties. The associations between aircraft noise exposure and CMR metrics were examined after adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and environmental confounders.
Overall, 3 percent of the participants experienced higher nighttime aircraft noise levels (Lnight) and 8 percent experienced higher weighted 24-hour day-evening-night aircraft noise levels (Lden; ≥45 and ≥50 dB, respectively). The researchers found that participants exposed to higher Lnight had 7 percent greater LV mass, which is associated with a 32 percent greater risk for major adverse cardiac events (MACE), and 4 percent thicker LV walls with a normal septal-to-lateral wall thickness ratio. These individuals also had worse LV myocardial dynamics, including an 8 percent lower global circumferential strain, which is associated with a 27 percent higher MACE risk. The findings were clearest for Lnight but were similar for Lden. Ten to 50 percent of the observed associations were mediated by body mass index and hypertension.
"Our findings also support the negative impacts of aircraft noise on the human heart, with important implications for noise reduction policies," the authors write.
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted January 2025
Read this next
Marine Microplastic Levels Linked to Cardiometabolic Disease Prevalence
WEDNESDAY, June 18, 2025 -- In coastal counties, marine microplastic levels (MMLs) are associated with the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases, according to a study published...
Researchers Quantify Magnitude of Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Cannabis
WEDNESDAY, June 18, 2025 -- Cannabis use is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), according to a systematic review based on real-world data published online...
Adherence to Healthy Diet Improves Cardiometabolic Risk, Even Without Weight Loss
WEDNESDAY, June 11, 2025 -- A healthy diet improves cardiometabolic risk factors, even if not associated with weight loss (WL), according to a study published online June 5...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.