Clin Res Cardiol. 2026 Mar 30. doi: 10.1007/s00392-026-02902-w. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Noise pollution is increasingly recognized as a cardiovascular hazard, yet its contribution to early-onset myocardial infarction (EOMI) has not yet been investigated before.
METHODS: This study included patients aged ≤ 50 years with myocardial infarction (MI) who were admitted to the Heart Center Bremen/Germany between 2015 and 2023. Based on traditional risk factors at the time of the index MI, the 10-year cardiovascular risk was estimated using the LIFE-CVD model. Residential noise exposure levels were extracted from the municipal GeoPortal.
RESULTS: In this study involving 430 young MI patients, the mean age was 45 ± 5 years, and 85.8% were male. Compared with low-noise peers, high-noise patients smoked less (31% vs. 54%), had fewer first-degree relatives with MI (18% vs. 34%), and less diabetes (6% vs. 12%; all p < 0.05). The average noise exposure increased as traditional risk factor exposure decreased (ANOVA p < 0.001 for LIFE-CVD score vs. noise exposure); this inverse association remained even after adjustment in multivariable analysis. In multivariable linear regression, higher noise exposure category was associated with a younger age at first MI (β = - 0.43 years per category; 95% CI - 0.74 to - 0.12; p < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: Among patients with EOMI and few traditional risk factors, elevated residential noise exposure was observed. Higher noise exposure was also associated with a younger age at first MI. These findings are hypothesis-generating and warrant further population-based studies to clarify whether residential noise contributes to MI risk and whether objectively assessed noise metrics could strengthen prevention strategies.
PMID:41910771 | DOI:10.1007/s00392-026-02902-w