Transportation noise exposure and incident type 2 diabetes: A retrospective cohort study in a large U.S. healthcare system
Authors' conclusion
Transportation noise, particularly rail noise, was associated with higher T2DM risk. Given plausible mechanisms involving sleep disruption and stress-related neuroendocrine activation, these findings add to evidence linking environmental noise to metabolic health and motivate further studies to evaluate causality and potential benefits of noise mitigation.
Study context
- Population
- Adults without baseline T2D, Houston Methodist Learning Health System Registry (2016–2023); noise assigned at census block group level (2020 US DOT National Transportation Noise Map)
- Participants
- 984,658 adults2.1 million person-years
- Exposure
- Transportation noise exposure categories and per 10 dB increase
- Outcome
- Incident T2D
Methodological detailssingle healthcare system registry
- Single healthcare system registry
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Loud vs QuietHazard ratio (95% CI)
Rail noise
1.14(1.01–1.29)
Total noise
1.17(1.03–1.33)
- Developed T2D (overall)
- 39 587 (1.88 per 100 person-years)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Incident T2D per 10 dB increase (continuous models)
- Rail noise, per 10 dB increase, HR
- 1.09 (1.05-1.13) (95% CI)
- Road noise, per 10 dB increase, HR
- 1.04 (1.01-1.08) (95% CI)
Original publication
Transportation noise exposure and incident type 2 diabetes: A retrospective cohort study in a large U.S. healthcare system. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 6 February 2026. doi:10.
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