Noise & Health最新文献

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.

Objective: To investigate the effect of non-steady-state noise on pain, anxiety and stress levels in patients waiting for coronary angiography.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical records of 310 patients who had undergone coronary angiography in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between January 2023 and September 2024. Patients were categorised into the low-noise group (noise level < 50 dB, n = 167) and high-noise group (noise level ≥ 50 dB, n = 143) on the basis of the average noise level during waiting. The general information, numerical rating scale (NRS) scores, state anxiety inventory (SAI) score and stress indicators (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate) were compared between the two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to evaluate the correlation of noise level with pain, anxiety level and stress indicators of patients.

Results: The high-noise group exhibited significantly higher average non-steady-state noise levels, peak noise levels, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate compared with the low-noise group before undergoing coronary angiography (P < 0.05). The NRS scores after coronary angiography and SAI scores before coronary angiography were significantly lower in the low-noise group than in the high-noise group (P < 0.05). The NRS score (r = 0.152, P = 0.007), SAI score (r = 0.119, P = 0.037), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.128, P = 0.024), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.116, P = 0.041) and heart rate (r = 0.122, P = 0.031) were positively correlated with noise levels.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence suggesting that non-steady-state noise in angiography waiting areas may significantly affect pain, anxiety and stress levels before coronary angiography. By reducing noise, healthcare providers can improve patient care and potentially alleviate the overall burden of stress and anxiety associated with medical procedures.

Background: Operating room noise is a potential stressor that can adversely affect patients undergoing surgeries under non-general anaesthesia. This study aims to evaluate the effects of noise control measures in these patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed the medical records of 296 patients who underwent non-general anaesthesia orthopaedic surgery between January 2021 and December 2023. Patients were divided into the following two groups according to the treatment received: the operating room noise control (ORNC) group, which used noise-cancelling headphones, and the conventional operating room noise (CORN) group, which did not have noise reduction. We evaluated stress markers (cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine); anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and pain perception (Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire) before and after surgery. Patient satisfaction was gauged using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. Statistical methods included t-test and Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and Chi-square test for categorical variables.

Results: Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics, including anxiety and stress indicators, were similar between groups preoperatively. After operation, patients in the ORNC group exhibited significantly lower systolic blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol and catecholamine levels compared with the CORN group (P < 0.05, for all). The ORNC group also had significantly reduced postoperative anxiety and pain scores (P < 0.05) and need for sedative medications (P = 0.002). Additionally, the patient satisfaction was higher in the ORNC group, with more reporting they were 'very satisfied' (37.96% vs. 22.64%, P = 0.009).

Conclusion: This study systematically evaluates the effectiveness of noise control in non-general anaesthesia orthopaedic surgery. Implementing noise control measures significantly reduces anxiety, pain perception and physiological stress markers, positively impacting the patient's recovery. These findings highlight the importance of auditory environment management as a critical component of comprehensive patient care and provide a basis for setting new standards for improving surgical outcomes and enhancing patient satisfaction.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a critical condition requiring effective postoperative recovery management. Hospital noise, often exceeding recommended levels, can heighten stress and disrupt healing post-AMI. This study investigated the effects of acoustic design in hospital wards on postoperative recovery for patients with AMI.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 192 patients with AMI hospitalized between June 2021 and July 2023. Patients were allocated into two groups on the basis of ward design: an acoustically optimized ward (AOW, n = 91) and a conventional ward (CW, n = 101). Outcomes, including vital signs, sleep quality, patient perceptions, and recovery metrics, were assessed. Noise levels were monitored continually, and sleep quality was gauged using sleep diaries.

Results: The AOW group exhibited significantly lower systolic (P = 0.011) and diastolic (P = 0.016) blood pressures and improved postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, P = 0.002) than the CW group, but LVEF was not reassessed at discharge. The AOW group further demonstrated reduced noise levels both day (P = 0.004) and night (P = 0.021), fostering better sleep outcomes such as fewer awakenings (P = 0.024). Additionally, the AOW group experienced shorter hospital stays (13.21 ± 3.57 days) than the CW group (14.34 ± 3.19 days, P = 0.022) and improved patient satisfaction at discharge (P = 0.029). Perceived pain was significantly reduced in the AOW group (P = 0.026). Anxiety levels displayed no significant differences.

Conclusion: The acoustic optimization of hospital wards was associated with improvements in postoperative recovery outcomes, such as lower blood pressure, enhanced sleep quality, reduced perceived pain, and shorter hospital stays, for patients with AMI, suggesting that a good sound environment may play a positive role in postoperative recovery.

Background: Chronic pain in the neck, shoulder, waist, and legs is a primary public health concern, especially in occupational settings where musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent. Emerging evidence suggests that chronic exposure to low-frequency noise in industrial environments may exacerbate pain perception and psychological distress, but its full impact on musculoskeletal pain and associated psychological factors remains underexplored.

Methods: This study focused on 256 employees from a local automobile manufacturing company who experienced shoulder, neck, lower back, and leg pains from August 2022 to August 2023. Participants were categorized into two groups according to their chronic exposure to low-frequency noise: the noise-exposed group (n = 119), who were exposed to noise levels of 0-200 Hz > 80 dB for more than 8 hour per day, and the non-noise group (n = 137), with less than 8 h/day during the same period. Data were collected on pain scores, psychological status, quality of life, and sleep quality using validated scales, including the Visual Analogue Scale, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Results: A retrospective study was conducted involving 256 employees from an automobile manufacturing company, who were divided into a noise-exposed group (n = 119), chronically exposed to low-frequency noise, and a non-noise group (n = 137). The Noise-exposed group reported higher pain scores (5.04 ± 1.06 vs. 4.64 ± 1.35, P = 0.008) and increased anxiety (SAS: 28.16 ± 6.23 vs. 26.31 ± 5.77, P = 0.014) and depression scores (SDS: 29.57 ± 5.34 vs. 28.16 ± 4.89, P = 0.028). Quality of life was impacted, particularly physiological function (42.48 ± 6.08 vs. 44.26 ± 6.12, P = 0.020), although differences in joint function and sleep quality were not statistically significant (All P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Chronic exposure to low-frequency noise was associated with heightened pain perception and psychological distress among workers, which influenced certain quality of life parameters.