Spatial variations of sleep impairment indicators associated with night-time noise: A fine-scale population-based study

Introduction: Sleep disorders are a major public health issue, and urban noise may contribute to their prevalence. However, no large-scale geospatial studies have specifically examined the relationship between sleep quality and noise in urban settings. Methodology: This cross-sectional study, conducted in Geneva, Switzerland, between June and September 2023, involved 3691 participants (mean age 54.84 years, 59.7% women). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while nighttime traffic noise exposure was measured using the sonBASE georeferenced database from the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment. Spatial statistics (Getis-Ord Gi*) were employed to identify spatial clusters of sleep disturbances and noise exposure. Results: Analysis revealed that sleep quality issues and associated indicators were not randomly distributed. Spatial patterns were observed in both subjective noise perception and objective noise measures. Conclusion: Poor sleep quality in urban environments is spatially correlated with noise exposure, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to mitigate these effects.