Noise & Health最新文献

Objective: This study was designed to assess the effect of chronic noise exposure on psychological and physiological indicators in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the data of 304 patients diagnosed with RA at Changsha Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital (Changsha Eighth Hospital) from June 2020 to June 2023. Patients were categorised into a low-noise (LN) group [<60 dB(A)] and a high-noise (HN) group [≥60 dB(A)] on the basis of the average noise exposure level, and they underwent propensity score matching (PSM). The collected data included demographic information, A-weighted equivalent continuous sound level (LAeq, 8 h), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), clinical symptoms and inflammatory markers.

Results: After PSM was conducted, 102 patients per group with balanced demographics were included. The LAeq was 66.28 ± 2.35 dB(A) in the HN group and 51.32 ± 2.08 dB(A) in the LN group, with a significant difference (P < 0.001). The HN group exhibited significantly higher levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6, P = 0.033), rheumatoid factor (RF, P < 0.001), higher SDS (P = 0.003) and SAS (P = 0.002) scores and more tender joint count (P = 0.014) than the LN group. Correlation analysis showed that DAS28 (r = 0.418), IL-6 (r = 0.143), RF (r = 0.391), SDS (r = 0.210), SAS (r = 0.193), tender joint pain (r = 0.119) and global health (r = 0.146) were positively correlated with noise levels.

Conclusion: HN exposure is associated with increased inflammatory markers, increased psychological distress and worsened health status in patients with RA.

Objective: To assess the mechanism underlying the effects of classical music on postoperative psychological stress and functional recovery in individuals with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted to collect clinical data on 130 patients with LDH who underwent percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy at Dongguan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2023 to May 2024. The conventional care group included 67 patients who received conventional rehabilitation care, and the music therapy group comprised 63 patients who received conventional rehabilitation care plus a classical music-based relaxation and sleep-aid rehabilitation program. The psychological stress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Self-Perceived Burden Scale [SPBS]), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale [PSQI]), comfort status (Kolcaba General Comfort Questionnaire [GCQ]), functional recovery, and quality of life (the MOS 36-item Short Form Health Survey) before and after intervention were compared between the two groups. Nursing satisfaction of the two groups was compared.

Results: After implementation, the HDS, HAS, SPBS, and PSQI scores of the music therapy group were lower than those of the conventional care group, whereas the GCQ score was higher (P < 0.05). The nursing satisfaction of the music therapy group was higher than that of the conventional care group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The classical music sleep rehabilitation program can effectively alleviate the postoperative psychological stress of patients with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion and improve their comfort and satisfaction, but has no significant effect on functional recovery.

Objective: This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the impact of music therapy on pain levels and comfort in patients undergoing catheterization for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 138 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia complicated by urinary retention who underwent catheterization in our hospital from March 2022 to June 2024. Eight cases that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded. The 130 remaining cases were divided into a conventional group (n = 70) and a music group (n = 60) according to different intervention plans. The one-time catheterization success rate, catheterization duration, spastic pain duration, pain degree [visual analog scale (VAS)], comfort level [Kolcaba's General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ)], physiological stress, negative emotions (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and complications were observed in both groups.

Result: The music group had a higher one-time catheterization success rate and shorter duration of spastic pain than the conventional group (P < 0.05). At 5 minutes after catheterization was completed, the music group had a lower VAS score and the GCQ score was higher (P > 0.05). During catheterization and 5 minutes after catheterization, the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate were lower in the music group (P > 0.05). Five minutes after completion, the Hospital Depression Scale and Hospital Anxiety Scale scores of the music group were lower (P > 0.05). The incidence of complications was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Music therapy can decrease the pain level of patients undergoing catheterization for benign prostatic hyperplasia, alleviate physiological stress, and reduce the generation of negative emotions.

Background: Hospital noise pollution represents a major environmental stressor for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), potentially affecting cardiovascular parameters and recovery outcomes. This study aims to investigate the effect of noise exposure on heart rate variability (HRV) and stress responses in CAD patients.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2022 and December 2023 with 200 CAD patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. In accordance with a temporal sequential design, 97 patients were treated in standard wards (January-August 2022), whereas 103 patients were treated in noise-controlled wards (November 2022-December 2023) after noise reduction protocols were implemented. Noise parameters, HRV indices [standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of the averages of normal-to-normal intervals (SDANN) and low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF)], salivary cortisol level, sleep quality [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)] and clinical outcomes were measured at preoperation and on postoperative day 5.

Results: Noise levels were significantly lower in noise-controlled wards than in standard wards during daytime and nighttime hours (P < 0.001). After 5 days of hospitalisation, patients in noise-controlled wards exhibited significantly improved HRV parameters, including higher SDNN and SDANN, lower LF/HF ratios, lower salivary cortisol levels and better PSQI scores (P < 0.05), than those in standard wards. Additionally, patients in noise-controlled wards experienced shorter hospital stays and a lower incidence of recurrent angina (P < 0.05) than those in standard wards.

Conclusions: Noise reduction in hospital wards significantly improved HRV parameters and reduced stress markers in CAD patients. The implementation of noise control measures may represent a cost-effective strategy to improve outcomes for CAD patients during hospitalisation.

Background: Despite the rising rates of cesarean section globally, managing anxiety remains a challenge. Music therapy is a nonpharmacological treatment that may help alleviate anxiety and stress, improve mood, and reduce the need for anesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 241 patients undergoing cesarean sections from January to October 2024. Participants were divided into a conventional group (n = 117), which received standard preoperative and intraoperative preparation, and a music therapy group (n = 124), which received additional music therapy. Music therapy was supplemented by playing customized music (e.g., soothing, therapeutic, or personalized tracks) through an audio device before and during the procedure. Anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State subscale, and stress biomarkers were measured. Affective state, depression, pain perception, and anesthesia drug usage were evaluated using questionnaires and clinical data.

Results: After surgery, the music therapy group exhibited significantly reduced anxiety scores and lower stress indicators. Negative affect (13.23 ± 1.98 vs. 12.57 ± 2.01; P = 0.010), depressive symptoms (9.59 ± 2.13 vs. 10.17 ± 2.14; P = 0.034), and Visual Analog Scale scores for pain (3.65 ± 0.34 vs. 3.76 ± 0.47; P = 0.048) decreased. Furthermore, the music therapy group required fewer anesthesia drugs during surgery (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Music therapy demonstrates clinically meaningful reductions in perioperative anxiety, pain, and anesthetic requirements during cesarean delivery, offering a safe, nonpharmacological adjunct to standard care.

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of a comprehensive noise management strategy on postlaryngectomy recovery by focusing on noise levels, sleep quality, psychological status, and complications.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 100 patients with laryngeal cancer who had undergone laryngectomy at the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between February 2023 and November 2024. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the time of their admission. The routine nursing group (47 patients, prerenovation phase, February-November 2023) received standard postoperative care, and the noise management group (53 patients, postrenovation phase, February-November 2024) received comprehensive noise management. The key indicators assessed were ward noise levels, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) value, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score, and postoperative complications.

Results: The noise management group had significantly lower daytime and nighttime noise levels compared with the routine nursing group (P < 0.05). The VAS scores did not differ significantly between the groups before or after nursing (P > 0.05). The PSQI and total scores and the HADS anxiety and depression scores in the noise management group were significantly lower than those in the routine nursing group (P < 0.05). The postoperative complications in the noise management group amounted to 7.55% versus the 10.64% in the routine group, with no significant difference (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Noise management positively affects postlaryngectomy recovery by improving sleep quality and reducing psychological distress. These findings emphasize the importance of noise control in postoperative care and suggest that noise control strategies should be incorporated into routine care protocols.

Objective: With increasing air traffic, aircraft noise pollution near Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport has intensified, raising concerns about community annoyance. Compared with a 2012 study, community responses to aircraft noise may have evolved, necessitating an updated dose-response relationship. This study refines the dose-response relationship, investigates the influence of demographic factors (age and gender) on annoyance, and contextualizes findings within international comparisons.

Methods: A face-to-face survey of 450 residents near Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport was conducted using the International Commission on Biological Effects of Noise standard questionnaire to assess noise annoyance. Noise levels were measured with a multifunctional sound level meter, and statistical analyses, including quadratic polynomial regression, Kruskal-Wallis H tests, and Spearman rank correlation, were applied to investigate the relationship between noise exposure and annoyance.

Results: The proportion of highly annoyed residents increased by seven percentage points at the same noise exposure levels (Lden 61-72 dB) compared with 2012, reflecting a steeper dose-response curve. Older residents exhibited higher annoyance levels than younger individuals (Kruskal-Wallis H test: H = 32.390, P < 0.001), whereas gender differences were not statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U test: Z = -0.877, P = 0.380). Compared with European studies, Chinese residents reported higher annoyance at the same noise levels, likely influenced by cultural contexts, policy transparency, and urban infrastructure differences.

Conclusion: This study provides updated empirical evidence on annoyance responses to aircraft noise, offering refined dose-response data and demographic insights. The findings serve as a scientific basis for policymakers to improve residential noise insulation, enhance compensation transparency, and establish structured community engagement mechanisms, contributing to more effective noise management strategies.

Background: Environmental noise pollution has emerged as an increasingly significant public health concern, particularly in relation to its potential impact on the mental health of adults aged 35 years or older. This study aims to systematically examine the association between environmental noise exposure and the incidence of depression and anxiety symptoms within this demographic.

Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases was conducted. A total of 11 eligible studies were identified, comprising 15,525 adults aged 35 years or older, among whom 2205 (14.2%) individuals reported experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety. A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis with heterogeneity assessment, sensitivity analysis and exploratory subgroup analyses to evaluate the robustness and variability of the findings.

Results: The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant association between long-term environmental noise exposure and an increased risk of depression and anxiety symptoms in adults aged 35 years or older (risk ratio [RR] = 1.29, 95% confidence interval: 1.16-1.51, P < 0.05). Substantial heterogeneity was observed across the included studies (I2 = 68.1%), suggesting moderate variability in study design, geographic location and exposure assessment methodologies. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings, and recalculated RRs ranged from 1.27 to 1.35. Exploratory subgroup analyses revealed that road traffic noise was the most commonly investigated source and consistently exhibited positive associations. Notably, both aircraft noise and community-level or multi-source noise were linked to adverse mental health outcomes.

Conclusion: Long-term exposure to environmental noise increases the risk of depression and anxiety in adults aged 35 or older. Key factors such as socioeconomic status, residential environment and individual sensitivity to noise moderate this association. Future research should further explore the role of socioeconomic factors.

Objective: This study analyzed the influence of music therapy combined with psychotherapy on the labor process and delivery outcomes in primiparous women.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 120 primiparous women who delivered at the People's Hospital of Nanchang City and the First People's Hospital of Jingdezhen between June 2021 and April 2024. Participants were divided into three groups: the combined group (receiving both music therapy and psychotherapy), the psychotherapy group, and the conventional care group. The study compared perinatal outcomes, psychological status [assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS)], childbirth self-efficacy [measured by the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory (CBSEI-C32)], and fear of childbirth [evaluated using the Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire (CAQ)] among the three groups.

Results: The durations of the first and second stages of labor were significantly shorter in the combined group than in the psychotherapy and conventional care groups (P < 0.05). At 24 hours postpartum, the combined group exhibited higher positive affect scores and lower negative affect scores on the PANAS compared to the other two groups (P < 0.05). At 24 hours postpartum, the combined group showed higher positive emotional scores and lower negative emotional score on the PANAS (P < 0.05) compared to the other groups. Additionally, the combined group demonstrated significantly higher outcome expectancy and self-efficacy scores on the CBSEI-C32, and lower CAQ scores, indicating reduced fear of childbirth (P < 0.05). Additionally, the combined group reported lower pain levels, as measured by the Visual Analog Scale at 3 cm cervical dilation and at full cervical dilation (P < 0.05). Neonates in the combined group had higher Apgar scores at 5 minutes post-delivery, and their mothers experienced reduced postpartum hemorrhage (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The integration of music therapy with psychotherapy during labor is effective in alleviating labor pain, enhancing psychological well-being, reducing fear and psychological stress associated with childbirth, improving delivery outcomes, and minimizing adverse maternal and neonatal events.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vibroacoustic therapy combined with Baduanjin exercise on cardiac function and psychological states in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: Clinical data of 200 CHD patients from June 2022 to June 2024 were retrospectively analysed. The patients were divided into a Baduanjin group (n = 110; Baduanjin exercise only) and a combined group (n = 90; vibroacoustic therapy combined with Baduanjin exercise) according to their rehabilitation method. After using propensity score matching (PSM) to balance the baseline data of the two groups, 60 cases were included in each group. After 12 weeks of rehabilitation, the cardiac function indicators (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], stroke volume [SV], left ventricular end-systolic dimension [LVESD], left ventricular end-diastolic diameter [LVEDD]); psychological state (the Profile of Mood States-Short Form [POMS-SF] score); heart rate variability indices (standard deviation of normal-to-normal [SDNN], root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats [RMSSD]); quality of life ([The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)]); Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) symptom scores and complication rate were compared between the two groups.

Results: After the PSM, no significant differences were observed in the baseline data of the two groups (P > 0.05). After rehabilitation, the combined group showed higher levels of LVEF, SV, SDNN and RMSSD; lower levels of LVESD and LVEDD; lower negative mood scores of POMS-SF; better SF-36 score and positive mood scores of POMS-SF than the Baduanjin group (P < 0.05). The TCM scores and complication rates of the two groups showed no significant differences (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: The combination of vibroacoustic therapy and Baduanjin exercise can significantly improve the cardiac function and psychological state in patients with CHD. Therefore, this combination is worthy of clinical application.