Associations between Aircraft Noise, Sleep, and Sleep-Wake Cycle: Actimetric Data from the UK Biobank Cohort near Four Major Airports

Abstract

Background: Nighttime aircraft noise may affect people's sleep, yet large-scale evidence using objective and subjective measures remains limited.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate associations between nighttime aircraft noise exposure and objectively measured sleep disturbance using a large UK cohort.

Methods: We used data from 105,770 UK Biobank cohort participants exposed and unexposed to aircraft noise who lived in 44 local authority districts near 4 international airports in England. We used a generalized linear regression model to examine cross-sectional associations between aircraft noise $L_{\text{night}}$ (23:00 hours-07:00 hours) and 7-d actimetric measures collected 2013-2015 ($n=\mathrm{22,102}$). We also used Logit and generalized estimating equations models to examine associations between $L_{\text{night}}$ and self-reported sleep measures at enrollment (2006-2010) and follow-up (2012-2013). This approach allowed us to compare and contrast the results and support potential future meta-analyses on noise-related sleep disturbance.

Results: Cross-sectional analyses of actimetric data suggested sleep disturbance associated with $L_{\text{night}}$, showing higher level of movements during the least active continuous 8-h time period [$\beta$: 0.12 milligravitational units; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.013, 0.23]. We also saw disrupted sleep-wake cycles as indicated by index scores of lower relative amplitude ($\beta$: $-0.006$; 95% CI: $-0.007$, $-0.005$), poorer interdaily stability ($\beta$: $-0.010$; 95% CI: $-0.014$, $-0.006$), and greater intradaily variability ($\beta$: 0.021; 95% CI: 0.019, 0.023), comparing $L_{\text{night}}$ $\ge 55$ dB with $<45$ dB. Repeated cross-sectional analyses found a 52% higher odds of more frequent daytime dozing [odds ratio (OR) $=1.52$; 95% CI: 1.32, 1.75] for $L_{\text{night}}$ $\ge 55$ dB in comparison with $<45$ dB, whereas the likelihood for more frequent sleeplessness was more uncertain ($\text{OR}=1.13$; 95% CI: 0.92, 1.39). Higher effect sizes were seen in preidentified vulnerable groups, including individuals $>65y$ of age and those with diabetes or dementia.

Conclusion: Individuals exposed to higher levels of aircraft noise experienced objectively higher levels of sleep disturbance and changes in sleep-wake cycle. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14156.