Do proximity to high traffic and traffic noise influence blood pressure and hypertension in the general population?

Background: Recent studies link environmental noise exposure and elevated blood pressure (BP). We aim to investigate, whether proximity to high traffic and traffic noise have an effect on BP or prevalence of hypertension in the general population. Methods: We used baseline data (2000–2003) from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study, a population-based prospective cohort in Germany (n=4814, age 45–75 years). Distances from participants' residences to roads in the highest quintile of general traffic density, of heavy-duty traffic density, and to federal/state highways were calculated. Long-term traffic noise was modeled…