Observational study on the influence of noise pollution on the quality of sleep of Porto residents compared with that of rural communities

Abstract

Exposure to noise pollution has escalated to alarming levels and is causing a number of health problems. It leads to interrupted sleep, increasing stage 1 and awake and decreasing REM and deep sleep. We sought to find a correlation between exposure to high levels of noise pollution in industrialized districts and sleeping problems reported by their inhabitants compared with rural neighbourhoods, using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). This study was composed of 65 people, 33 living in the district of Porto and 32 in rural villages. Each participant was asked to complete two questionnaires; one where they reported their sociodemographic data and the PSQI which indirectly evaluated their sleep quality in the last month. The results from each of the studied groups were compared and analysed using binomial, T and Chi-Square tests. The present study shows that noise has an implication, although limited, on people’s sleeping patterns in the city of Porto, as it affects their daytime life and productivity with a p-value of 0.046. Preventive measures should be taken that focus on reducing nocturnal noise. The responsible departments should enforce the regulations established by the government.