Noise exposure at school and blood pressure in adolescents
Abstract: The increasing
prevalence of primary hypertension has motivated researchers to identify
influencing factors, one of which is noise. There have been few studies on a
relationships between noise exposure and blood pressure in children, and none
have dealt exclusively with adolescents.
Objective To assess for an association between noise exposure at school
and blood pressure in adolescents.
Methods To identify noisy and quiet schools, the mean noise levels of 192
senior high schools in Medan were measured using sound level meters. One noisy
school and one quiet school were randomly selected for inclusion (mean noise
levels of 68.2 and 53.8 dB, respectively). Students from both
schools underwent blood pressure measurements by mercury sphygmomanometer.
Their Body weights and heights were obtained for body mass index calculations.
Subjects filled questionnaires and their parents were interviewed regarding
history of illnesses.
Results Of the 271 adolescents recruited, 136 (50.2%) were from the noisy
school. Adolescents from the noisy school had higher mean systolic and
diastolic blood pressures [121.6 (SD 13.87) mmHg and 71.1 (SD 8.15) mmHg, respectively],
than those from the quiet school [111.8 (SD 12.61) mmHg and 63.8 (SD 8.05)
mmHg, respectively]. After adjusting for other factors, noise had a
significant, moderate, positive association with systolic and diastolic blood
pressures [β = 0.452; B = 6.21 (95% CI 3.86-8.55) mmHg; and β = 0.473; B = 4.18
(95% CI 2.41 to 5.94) mmHg, respectively].
Conclusion Adolescents from a noisy school have a greater risk of higher
systolic and diastolic blood pressures than those from a quiet school.
Keywords: blood pressure;
noise; adolescent
Author: Fadhilah Ihsani,
Rafita Ramayati, Muhammad Ali, Rusdi Djas, Oke Rina Ramayani, Rosmayanti
Siregar, Beatrix Siregar
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg160223
