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Impact of road traffic noise annoyance on health-related quality of life: results from a population-based study

Dratva, Julia ; Zemp, Elisabeth ; Dietrich, Denise ; Bridevaux, Pierre-Olivier ; Rochat, Thierry ; Schindler, Christian ; Gerbase, Margaret

In: Quality of Life Research, 2010, vol. 19, no. 1, p. 37-46

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    Title
    • Impact of road traffic noise annoyance on health-related quality of life: results from a population-based study
    Author
    • Dratva, Julia. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at Swiss Tropical Institute, Associated Institute of the University of Basel, Steinengraben 49, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
    • Zemp, Elisabeth. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at Swiss Tropical Institute, Associated Institute of the University of Basel, Steinengraben 49, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
    • Dietrich, Denise. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at Swiss Tropical Institute, Associated Institute of the University of Basel, Steinengraben 49, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
    • Bridevaux, Pierre-Olivier. Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva, 24 rue Micheli-du-Crest, 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland
    • Rochat, Thierry. Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva, 24 rue Micheli-du-Crest, 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland
    • Schindler, Christian. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at Swiss Tropical Institute, Associated Institute of the University of Basel, Steinengraben 49, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
    • Gerbase, Margaret. Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva, 24 rue Micheli-du-Crest, 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:321179
    Summary
    Purpose: To estimate the impact of traffic-related noise annoyance on health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in a population-based study and potential effect modification by gender. Methods: The study included 5,021 participants of the Swiss Cohort Study of Air Pollution and Lung Disease in Adults second survey. The association between traffic-related noise annoyance, measured on an 11-point scale, and HrQoL, based on SF-36 scores, was investigated by multivariate regression analysis. Effect sizes were calculated, and interactions by gender and chronic disease status examined. Results: Thirteen percentage of the study population reported high annoyance due to traffic. Women were more likely to report high noise annoyance (adjOR 1.23; 95%CI 1.01-1.48). Except for general health, all SF-36 scores showed a significant negative association with noise annoyance. The respective effect sizes ranged between 0.13 and 0.54. Significant effect modification by gender and chronic disease status was present in specific SF-36 domains. Conclusion: This paper presents first evidence of an inverse relationship of noise annoyance and HrQoL in a general population. Although the estimated effects are small to moderate for individuals, they may add up to a relevant public health impact