Noise & Health最新文献

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate music therapy effects on perioperative anxiety and postoperative sleep quality in patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery for lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy or laser disc decompression between January 2020 and January 2025. The patients were divided into music therapy group (n = 108) and routine care group (n = 92) according to the clinical management they received during hospitalisation. The music therapy group received music therapy and standard care, and the routine care group received standard care. The primary outcomes were state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). The secondary outcomes consisted of physiological parameters, stress biomarkers, pain levels, patient satisfaction, complication rate and recovery parameters.

Results: At the 30-minute pre-operation timepoint, the music therapy group showed remarkably smaller increases in anxiety scores compared with the routine care group. At the 3rd day of hospitalisation, the music therapy group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in STAI and PSQI scores compared with the routine care group (both P < 0.05). The visual analogue scale scores for pain level were greatly reduced in the music therapy group (P < 0.05), whereas the patient satisfaction questionnaire-18 scores were higher (P < 0.05). Although the frequencies of individual complications are similar (all P >0.05), there are differences in the overall incidence of complications (P = 0.009).

Conclusion: Music therapy represents an effective adjunctive caring method associated with improvements in perioperative anxiety, postoperative sleep quality and recovery outcomes in patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery for LDH. The findings support the integration of music therapy into standard perioperative care protocols to optimise patient experience and clinical outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the influence of ambient noise levels on postoperative psychological state, ankle function, and quality of life in individuals who underwent ankle fracture surgery, thereby offering scientific support for optimizing the postoperative rehabilitation environment.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 123 patients (55 in the high-noise group, ≥ 55 dB; 68 in the low-noise group, < 55 dB) who underwent open reduction and internal fixation from January 2022 to March 2023. Assessments included the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), and Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS). Statistical analyses included non-parametric tests, Spearman's correlation, and adjusted analyses (analysis of covariance and multivariate regression), controlling for confounders.

Results: Unadjusted analyses showed that the high-noise group had significantly higher SAS (40.41 ± 4.25 vs. 35.15 ± 3.61, P < 0.001) and SDS scores (46.55 and S vs. 42.63 and S, P < 0.001) but lower AOFAS (65.47 ± 6.45 vs. 69.71 ± 6.94, P < 0.001) and OMAS scores (64.47 ± 6.78 vs. 69.27 ± 7.37, P = 0.005). After this study adjusted for confounders, these differences remained significant (adjusted mean differences: SAS = 5.23, SDS = 9.89, AOFAS = -4.19, OMAS = -4.76, all P < 0.05). Noise levels were moderately positively correlated with anxiety (r = 0.376, P = 0.021) and negatively correlated with ankle function (r = -0.271, P = 0.002), with similar associations in multivariate regression (SAS: β = 0.352, P = 0.028; AOFAS: β = -0.214, P = 0.023).

Conclusion: High-noise environments exacerbate postoperative anxiety, delay functional recovery, and reduce quality of life. Clinicians should optimize rehabilitation environments and adopt multidisciplinary interventions to improve outcomes.

Objective: Investigate the effect of implementing a multidirectional noise control programme on the rehabilitation outcomes of hospitalised haemato-oncological patients.

Methods: The clinical data of haemato-oncological patients who received their first chemotherapy treatment in Ganzhou People's Hospital between March 2022 and February 2024 were retrospectively analysed. The patients were categorised into the noise reduction group and the conventional group in accordance with whether they had received the multidirectional noise control programme during their hospitalisation. A total of 72 cases were included in the final noise reduction group and 73 cases in the conventional group. The measurement of the acoustic environment in the wards of both groups and the monitoring of various serological indicators, such as the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), were used to evaluate the clinical effects of the multidirectional noise control programme. In addition, patient satisfaction with health care services was evaluated using the Inpatient Satisfaction and Experience Monitoring scale.

Results: After the implementation of the noise control intervention, the ward noise levels of the noise reduction group were significantly lower than those of the conventional group (P < 0.001). After the intervention, the noise reduction group exhibited significantly lower levels of norepinephrine, adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol compared with those of the conventional group (P < 0.05). The GHQ-12 and PSQI scores of the patients in the noise reduction group were significantly lower than those of the patients in the conventional group after the end of the programme (P < 0.001). In addition, the satisfaction scores with the clinical medical services of the patients in the noise reduction group were significantly higher than those of the patients in the conventional group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Systematic noise management significantly improved the sleep quality and mood and stress levels of haemato-oncological inpatients whilst enhancing medical satisfaction.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of operating room (OR) noise management on intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) stability and postoperative pain management among patients undergoing spinal surgery.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 158 patients undergoing spinal surgery between March 2023 and December 2024. Participants were stratified into high-noise exposure (conventional OR environment, n = 78) and low-noise exposure groups (noise-controlled OR environment, n = 80) based on implemented noise management protocols. Noise exposure levels, intraoperative SSEP parameters (latency, central conduction time (CCT), peak amplitude, and signal-to-noise ratio), postoperative pain scores measured using a visual analog scale, analgesic consumption, patient satisfaction measured by Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18, functional recovery assessed by Spine Functional Index-25, and recovery outcomes were compared between groups.

Results: The high-noise exposure group had significantly impaired SSEP stability with increased prolonged SSEP latencies and CCTs than the low-noise exposure group (P < 0.001). The high-noise exposure group demonstrated significantly higher postoperative pain scores, increased analgesic consumption, prolonged hospital stays, and lower patient satisfaction scores (all P < 0.001). Although functional impairment was greater in the high-noise group at discharge (P < 0.001), both groups achieved comparable functional recovery at 1-month follow-up (P > 0.05). Postoperative complications showed no significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Management of OR noise is associated with improved intraoperative SSEP monitoring stability and reduced postoperative pain in spinal surgery patients. Noise-controlled environments may enhance early recovery without affecting complication rates. Results support the implementation of systematic noise reduction protocols in perioperative care.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of acupuncture, receptive music therapy and their combination for managing noise-induced sleep disorders amongst healthcare workers.

Methods: This research represents a retrospective cohort analysis of 145 healthcare workers with noise-induced sleep disorders (January 2023-December 2024). The participants received conventional pharmacological treatment (n = 45), acupuncture monotherapy (n = 52) or combined acupuncture-music therapy (n = 48) for 8 weeks.

Primary outcomes: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), polysomnographic parameter.

Secondary outcomes: salivary cortisol, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and the World Health Organization's Quality of Life-BREF.

Results: Combined therapy demonstrated superior outcomes, with PSQI scores decreasing from 9.47 ± 2.13 to 5.82 ± 1.65 (Δ = -3.65, P < 0.001) and sleep efficiency improving from 68.35 ± 8.42% to 84.73 ± 6.28% (P < 0.001). Acupuncture monotherapy achieved comparable results to pharmacotherapy at 8 weeks (PSQI: 7.92 ± 1.98 vs. 7.89 ± 2.03, P = 0.941), with superior sustainability at the 12-week follow-up (7.45 ± 1.89 vs. 8.12 ± 2.08, P < 0.05). Salivary cortisol levels were significantly lower in the combined therapy group (0.52 ± 0.11 µg/dL) than in the control group (0.78 ± 0.15 µg/dL, P < 0.001). Multivariate regression confirmed robustness after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusion: Compared with monotherapy approaches, combined acupuncture-music therapy demonstrates superior efficacy for noise-induced sleep disorders, supporting the integration of multimodal approaches in occupational health management.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of music therapy on perioperative anxiety, depression and postoperative satisfaction in elderly patients undergoing surgery for distal radius fractures.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 186 patients (≥65 years) was conducted from January 2022 to December 2024. The participants were divided based on the treatment period: standard care (January 2022-June 2023, n = 92) or music therapy plus standard care (July 2023-December 2024, n = 94). Outcomes measured included anxiety and depression [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)]; anxiety levels (Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety [VAS-A]); sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQ]); satisfaction; pain; length of hospital stay and functional recovery at preoperative, postoperative 24 hours, discharge and 2-week and 6-week follow-up timepoints.

Results: The music-therapy group demonstrated progressive improvements across all timepoints. At 6 weeks, the music therapy group maintained superior outcomes compared with standard care: HADS-Anxiety (6.05 ± 1.98 vs. 7.34 ± 2.24, P < 0.001), HADS-Depression (5.86 ± 2.07 vs. 6.69 ± 2.53, P = 0.015), VAS-A (28.83 ± 12.94 vs. 33.47 ± 15.19 mm, P = 0.026) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (6.15 ± 1.94 vs. 7.33 ± 2.18, P < 0.001). Patient satisfaction scores were significantly higher (8.46 ± 0.94 vs. 7.93 ± 1.29, P < 0.001). Hospital stay was reduced (3.21 ± 0.89 vs. 4.12 ± 1.23 days, P < 0.001), opioid consumption decreased (23.59 ± 11.67 vs. 34.56 ± 13.89 oral morphine equivalents, P < 0.001) and functional recovery was superior (disability of the arm, shoulder and hand]: 28.01 ± 11.34 vs. 38.87 ± 13.78, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Music therapy considerably reduces anxiety and depression, enhances sleep quality and satisfaction and facilitates recovery of elderly patients undergoing distal radius fracture surgery.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of ward noise on psychological health and sleep quality in patients recovering from haemorrhagic stroke (HS) surgery.

Methods: A retrospective clinical study was conducted in 230 patients who underwent surgery for HS. Patients were assigned to groups on the basis of admission timing relative to ward renovation completion, with a buffer period of 1 month. The patients were sequentially enrolled into the following two groups: a regular ward group (n = 105) before noise reduction renovations and a noise-reduction group (n = 125) after renovations. Noise levels were measured in both ward environments. Psychological health was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Recovery outcomes were measured using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Data were collected on postoperative days 1 and 14. Statistical analyses were performed using independent t-tests for between-group comparisons, paired t-tests for within-group changes and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey's HSD post-hoc analysis for multi-period noise level comparisons (α = 0.05).

Results: On postoperative day 14, the noise-reduction group demonstrated lower total HADS scores (P < 0.001) and lower global PSQI scores (P < 0.001). The noise-reduction group had lower NIHSS scores and lower mRS scores on postoperative day 14 (P < 0.001). Hospital stay duration was shorter in the noise-reduction group, and patient satisfaction scores were significantly higher (both P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Noise reduction in hospital wards significantly improves psychological health, sleep quality and recovery outcomes in patients recovering from surgery after HS. These findings underscore the importance of optimising the hospital environment to support recovery.

Objective: Although several studies have reported negative impacts of classroom noise on learning, few have examined students' subjective perceptions of their acoustic environment. This cross-sectional observational case study of a single classroom explored how adolescents aged 12 to 13 years evaluated their classroom soundscape and related perceptions to objective noise measurements.

Methods: Over 11 school days, several groups of students completed a questionnaire at the end of each class period (N = 957), indicating whether they felt annoyed/distracted, indifferent, or content/focused in relation to the acoustic environment, and providing free-text comments. Simultaneously, acoustic indicators (LAeq, LA10, LA90, LAmax, LA10-LA90) were recorded using calibrated sound level meters.

Results: Periods with higher LAeq, LA10, and LAmax values were significantly associated with fewer students feeling content/focused (r = -0.49 to -0.59; P < 0.05). At the individual level, correlations between acoustic measures and evaluations were weak (r = -0.14 to -0.19). Qualitative analysis of students' comments identified four perceptual modes of acoustic experience: intensity, soundscape, source, and autocentric impressions. Most students used only one mode and rarely made explicit connections between sound and learning.

Conclusion: Findings from this single-classroom case study suggest that while higher continuous and peak noise levels are modestly associated with increased annoyance and reduced focus, these effects are limited. Because some student groups visited the classroom repeatedly, the data are not fully independent; and results should be interpreted with caution. This study highlights the need for larger, multiclassroom investigations combining subjective and objective data, and for tools supporting teacher noise management and student awareness.

Background: The substantial growth in global air traffic has expanded the range of aircraft noise impacts the health outcomes, making aircraft noise a key limiting factor for future airport expansions. This study presents a comprehensive review and data-driven bibliometric analysis of the health outcomes of aircraft noise, aiming to clarify the network structure and development trends in this research field.

Methods: Relevant keywords (aircraft, airport noise hazard, annoyance, exposure, damage, risk, illness, resident, worker health, sound quality) were used to extract literature from the Web of Science database, covering the period from 2001 to May 2024. Only journal articles were retained, and publications in unrelated fields were excluded. Visualization was performed using Citespace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix.

Results: A total of 1512 articles were analyzed. The number of publications increased significantly in 2019. "Annoyance" and "exposure" were among the most frequently used keywords. The top co-cited journals were Journal of Acoustical Society of America (JASA, 2334 citations), Noise and Health (1315 citations), and Journal of Sound and Vibration (JSV, 1298 citations). The analysis also summarized preliminary quantitative results on noise metrics and health outcomes. For example, an increase of 10 dB in day-evening-night noise exposure was associated with a 1.09% increase in the exposure-response relationship for ischemic heart disease.

Conclusion: Aircraft noise has been shown to adversely affect human health, contributing to sleep disturbance, cardiovascular disease, and decreased quality of life in airport communities. This study advocates for effective measures to reduce the health impacts of airport noise on communities and highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address the complex health issues caused by aircraft noise. In the future, a comprehensive synthesis and categorization of research directions in this field could help identify emerging topics and general trends, thereby supporting the development of more effective airport noise management strategies.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of binaural beat technology (BBT) sound stimulation therapy on the physiological and psychological functioning of elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort study. Clinical data of 104 patients with CHD undergoing PCI from January 2022 to December 2024 were retrospectively analysed. The patients were grouped according to the time of introduction of the hospital's postoperative therapy plan into the conventional group (n = 53, patients receiving standard therapy between January 2022 and May 2023) and the BBT group (n = 51, patients receiving standard therapy plus BBT therapy between June 2023 and December 2024). Comparisons included physiological indices (diastolic blood pressure [DBP], systolic blood pressure [SBP], heart rate [HR]); sleep quality (Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire [RCSQ] score, polysomnography [PSG] parameters [slow-wave sleep duration, total sleep time, nocturnal awakenings]); perceived stress (10-item Perceived Stress Scale [PSS-10]); mood states (Brief Profile of Mood States [BPOMS]) and psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] anxiety subscore, depression subscore and total score).

Results: One week after the operation, the BBT group had lower levels of DBP, SBP, HR, PSS-10 score, BPOMS score, HADS anxiety, depression dimension scores and total HADS score; higher RCSQ score; longer deep sleep time and total sleep time and fewer night awakenings than the conventional group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: BBT sound stimulation therapy improves haemodynamic stability, enhances sleep architecture, reduces perceived stress, ameliorates mood disturbances and alleviates psychological distress in elderly patients with CHD post-PCI.