Background: Exposure to environmental noise might exert negative effects on cardiovascular function (1). Aim of the study is to explore whether sleep loss associated with exposure to aircraft noise has a detrimental effect on vascular function.

Methods: 22 individuals, heavily exposed (E) to aircraft noise (>50 DbA) were recruited and matched with a group of non-exposed individuals (NE). Pulse wave velocity (PWV), central blood pressure (BP), augmented pressure (AP) and augmentation index (Aix) were performed. 7-day actigraphy was performed for the assessment of total sleep time (TST) and wake after sleep onset (WASO).

Results: E showed similar TST (7.2±1.8 vs 7.1±1.3h, p=0.77) and WASO (50±46 vs 47±30 min, p=0.49) compared to NE. E showed higher Aix (26±12 vs 14±16, p=0.006) and AP (11±7 vs 7±8, p=0.03) than NE, in the presence of similar PWV, mean BP and heart rate (HR).

In E group, Aix was related with height (r= −0.56, p=0,009), TST (r= −0.65, p=0.002), while was not related with age, mean BP, PWV and HR. The association remained significant in a multiple regression model (beta = −2.92, p=0.01), with TST accounting for 12.9% of Aix variance (r2 full model 0.84).

In NE Aix was related with age (r= −0.82, p<0.001), HR (r=0.76, p<0.001), TST (r= −0.49, p=0.01), mean BP (r=0.61, p=0.01), PWV (r=0.57, p=0.004). The only independent determinants of Aix in NE were age (beta=0.64, p=0.02) and HR (beta=−0.37, p=0.03).

Conclusions: Central pressure augmentation is independently affected by sleep duration in individuals exposed to high levels of environmental aircraft noise.