Abstract Body: Background: Aircraft noise is a growing public health concern for communities near airports. Prolonged exposure to environmental noise has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and hypertension through mechanisms such as sleep disturbance, vascular dysfunction, and oxidative stress. However, the specific impact of aircraft noise remains under-investigated. This study investigates the long-term association between aircraft noise exposure and the risk of hypertension, with subgroup analysis of nighttime exposure and sex-specific differences.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases up to April 2025. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 with an inverse variance random-effects model, pooling outcomes as odds ratios (OR) and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The study protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024598651).
Results: Our final analysis included 22 studies conducted across multiple countries in North America, Europe, and Asia, comprising a total of 6.2 million adults aged 18 years and older, with follow-up durations ranging from 1 to 20 years. Exposure was measured in sound pressure levels (dB). The pooled analysis revealed a statistically significant association between aircraft noise exposure and an increased risk of hypertension, with an OR of 1.09 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02 to 1.17; p = 0.01). Subgroup analysis focusing on nighttime aircraft noise exposure showed a stronger association, with an OR of 1.15 (95% CI: 1.05 to 1.26; p = 0.002). Sex-specific analysis revealed a more pronounced risk in males (OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.42; p = 0.005) compared to females (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.13; p = 0.03). Additionally, aircraft noise exposure was associated with a statistically significant increase in systolic blood pressure (MD: 1.83 mmHg; 95% CI: 0.11 to 3.56; p = 0.04), as well as a borderline significant increase in diastolic blood pressure (MD: 1.56 mmHg; 95% CI: 0.03 to 3.09; p = 0.05).
Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a significant association between aircraft noise exposure and an increased risk of hypertension, particularly with nighttime exposure and in males. These findings emphasize the need for coordinated efforts from policymakers and the aviation sector to address this public health concern. Additional research is required to explore the mechanisms and assess the impact of noise mitigation strategies across diverse populations.