Earplug use during sleep and its association with cardiovascular disease – Results from a large sample of the general population

Introduction: Environmental factors contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathogenesis. Noise annoyance is linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and earplug use may mitigate noise-related health effects. This study examines associations between earplug use, noise annoyance, and CVD in a ge...

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Main Authors: Omar Hahad, Volker H. Schmitt, Rieke Baumkötter, Matthias Michal, Julian Chalabi, Alexander K. Schuster, Emilio Gianicolo, Karl J. Lackner, Katharina Geschke, Julia Weinmann-Menke, Stavros Konstantinides, Andreas Daiber, Philipp S. Wild, Thomas Münzel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:International Journal of Cardiology: Heart & Vasculature
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352906725000454
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author Omar Hahad
Volker H. Schmitt
Rieke Baumkötter
Matthias Michal
Julian Chalabi
Alexander K. Schuster
Emilio Gianicolo
Karl J. Lackner
Katharina Geschke
Julia Weinmann-Menke
Stavros Konstantinides
Andreas Daiber
Philipp S. Wild
Thomas Münzel
author_facet Omar Hahad
Volker H. Schmitt
Rieke Baumkötter
Matthias Michal
Julian Chalabi
Alexander K. Schuster
Emilio Gianicolo
Karl J. Lackner
Katharina Geschke
Julia Weinmann-Menke
Stavros Konstantinides
Andreas Daiber
Philipp S. Wild
Thomas Münzel
author_sort Omar Hahad
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Environmental factors contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathogenesis. Noise annoyance is linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and earplug use may mitigate noise-related health effects. This study examines associations between earplug use, noise annoyance, and CVD in a general population sample. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 15,010 participants (35–74 years, 2007–2012) in the German Gutenberg Health Study were analyzed. Noise annoyance from various sources and earplug use during sleep were self-reported. Prevalent CVD (atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, chronic heart failure, peripheral artery disease, or venous thromboembolism) was determined through self-report or medical records. Logistic regression analyses with sequential adjustments evaluated associations. Results: Among 14,675 participants with earplug data, 713 (4.9%) reported use. Earplug users were more likely younger women with lower cardiovascular risk profiles but higher noise annoyance (90.3% vs. 78.8%). Logistic regression revealed consistent positive associations between earplug use and prevalent CVD across various noise sources, persisting after adjustments for covariates. For example, the odds ratio for earplug use and prevalent CVD, adjusted for neighborhood noise annoyance and other factors, was 1.91 (95% CI 1.39–2.59). No interaction between earplug use and noise annoyance was found. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the relationships between earplug use, noise annoyance, and CVD. Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing noise-related cardiovascular risks and emphasize the complex dynamics of these factors in cardiovascular health.
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spelling doaj-art-88ba706d21ef45e8a8ccdff508441e652025-08-20T02:59:50ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Cardiology: Heart & Vasculature2352-90672025-04-015710164210.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101642Earplug use during sleep and its association with cardiovascular disease – Results from a large sample of the general populationOmar Hahad0Volker H. Schmitt1Rieke Baumkötter2Matthias Michal3Julian Chalabi4Alexander K. Schuster5Emilio Gianicolo6Karl J. Lackner7Katharina Geschke8Julia Weinmann-Menke9Stavros Konstantinides10Andreas Daiber11Philipp S. Wild12Thomas Münzel13Department of Cardiology – Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany; Corresponding author at: Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.Department of Cardiology – Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine-Main, Mainz, GermanyGerman Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany; Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyPreventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyInstitute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyInstitute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Nephrology, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyCenter for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Cardiology – Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine-Main, Mainz, GermanyPreventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany; Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Cardiology – Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine-Main, Mainz, GermanyIntroduction: Environmental factors contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathogenesis. Noise annoyance is linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and earplug use may mitigate noise-related health effects. This study examines associations between earplug use, noise annoyance, and CVD in a general population sample. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 15,010 participants (35–74 years, 2007–2012) in the German Gutenberg Health Study were analyzed. Noise annoyance from various sources and earplug use during sleep were self-reported. Prevalent CVD (atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, chronic heart failure, peripheral artery disease, or venous thromboembolism) was determined through self-report or medical records. Logistic regression analyses with sequential adjustments evaluated associations. Results: Among 14,675 participants with earplug data, 713 (4.9%) reported use. Earplug users were more likely younger women with lower cardiovascular risk profiles but higher noise annoyance (90.3% vs. 78.8%). Logistic regression revealed consistent positive associations between earplug use and prevalent CVD across various noise sources, persisting after adjustments for covariates. For example, the odds ratio for earplug use and prevalent CVD, adjusted for neighborhood noise annoyance and other factors, was 1.91 (95% CI 1.39–2.59). No interaction between earplug use and noise annoyance was found. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the relationships between earplug use, noise annoyance, and CVD. Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing noise-related cardiovascular risks and emphasize the complex dynamics of these factors in cardiovascular health.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352906725000454Earplug useHearing protectionNoise annoyanceCardiovascular diseaseGeneral population
spellingShingle Omar Hahad
Volker H. Schmitt
Rieke Baumkötter
Matthias Michal
Julian Chalabi
Alexander K. Schuster
Emilio Gianicolo
Karl J. Lackner
Katharina Geschke
Julia Weinmann-Menke
Stavros Konstantinides
Andreas Daiber
Philipp S. Wild
Thomas Münzel
Earplug use during sleep and its association with cardiovascular disease – Results from a large sample of the general population
International Journal of Cardiology: Heart & Vasculature
Earplug use
Hearing protection
Noise annoyance
Cardiovascular disease
General population
title Earplug use during sleep and its association with cardiovascular disease – Results from a large sample of the general population
title_full Earplug use during sleep and its association with cardiovascular disease – Results from a large sample of the general population
title_fullStr Earplug use during sleep and its association with cardiovascular disease – Results from a large sample of the general population
title_full_unstemmed Earplug use during sleep and its association with cardiovascular disease – Results from a large sample of the general population
title_short Earplug use during sleep and its association with cardiovascular disease – Results from a large sample of the general population
title_sort earplug use during sleep and its association with cardiovascular disease results from a large sample of the general population
topic Earplug use
Hearing protection
Noise annoyance
Cardiovascular disease
General population
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352906725000454
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