Table 8. PICOS/PECCOS scheme of critical health outcomes for exposure to road traffic noise
PECO Description
Population General population
Exposure Exposure to high levels of noise produced by road traffic (average/night time)
Comparison Exposure to lower levels of noise produced by road traffic (average/night time)
Outcome(s) For average noise exposure: For night noise exposure:
Table 9. Summary of findings for health effects from exposure to road traffic noise (Lden)
| Noise metric | Priority health outcome measure | Quantitative risk for adverse health | Lowest level of exposure across studies | Number of participants (studies) | Quality of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular disease | |||||
| Lden | Incidence of IHD | RR = 1.08 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.15) per 10 dB increase | 53 dB | 67 224 (7) | High (upgraded for dose-response) |
| Lden | Incidence of hypertension | RR = 0.97 (95% CI: 0.90–1.05) per 10 dB increase | N/A | 32 635 (1) | Low (downgraded for risk of bias and because only one study was available) |
| Annoyance | |||||
| Lden | %HA | Odds ratio (OR) = 3.03 (95% CI: 2.59–3.55) per 10 dB increase | 40 dB | 34 112 (25) | Moderate (downgraded for inconsistency) |
| Cognitive impairment | |||||
| Lden | Reading and oral comprehension | Not estimated | N/A | Over 2844 (1) | Very low (downgraded for inconsistency) |
| Hearing impairment and tinnitus | |||||
| Lden | Permanent hearing impairment | - | - | - | - |