Effects of noise on sleep: a summary of the current state of research from 2023 to 2026

Kurzfassung

This review summarizes recent research on the impact of environmental noise on sleep. A PubMed search applying the search terms "noise" and "sleep" for titles and abstracts identified 611 publications between April 2023 and February 2026. A stepwise selection process including only original research on humans and publications in English, followed by title and abstract screening, resulted in 118 eligible studies. The included studies addressed a broad spectrum of noise sources, including neighbourhood, (daytime) occupational, wind turbine, transportation, white, and hospital noise. Hospital-related research clearly predominated, with 48 studies focusing on sleep in hospitalized patients. Many of these investigated the effect of interventions to reduce ward or intensive care unit noise levels, alongside complementary approaches such as earmuffs, music therapy or white noise application. Sleep outcomes were predominantly assessed using self-reports and less often using wrist actigraphy. The application of other comprehensive physiological assessments, such as polysomnography, was rare. Research maintained a strong focus on vulnerable populations, including neonates, infants and (pre-)adolescents, older adults, individuals with medical conditions, and those exposed to irregular work–sleep schedules. Co-exposure to additional environmental stressors in the bedroom such as artificial light, particulate matter, humidity, and temperature has partly been considered. Several studies further examined the direct and indirect associations between nocturnal noise exposure, impaired sleep, and adverse mental and cardiovascular outcomes. However, the mediating role of sleep disturbance in the pathway between environmental noise and health effects as proposed by the WHO Environmental Noise Guideline was not consistently supported across studies.