FAA National Sleep Study on the Effects of Aircraft Noise on Sleep

Individuals who complete the recruitment survey, indicate their interest in participating in the study, and meet the eligibility criteria, will be enrolled in the 5-night in-home sleep study to collect noise and physiological (heart rate, body movements) measurements, and answer questionnaires about experiences during the previous night and a characteristics questionnaire that collects additional information relevant for sleep. After confirmation of eligibility and informed consent, subjects will be sent equipment by mail to measure body movements and ECG signals as well as sounds in the bedroom. Awakenings will be inferred from ECG and movement data using a previously validated algorithm, and analyzed relative to measured noise levels in the bedroom. The study nights will take place during the week, Monday night/Tuesday morning through Friday night/Saturday morning. Upon completion of the 5 nights, the questionnaires and equipment will be returned to the study team by mail. Survey mailing distribution, subject recruitment, and data collection for the in-home sleep study is expected to last 2 years, but may last up to 3 years.

The study population is adult residents of U.S. households who are exposed to relevant levels of nighttime air traffic (both in terms of number and sound pressure level of events) in communities in proximity to 77 airports that met the eligibility criteria for this study. Only areas with expected aircraft noise exposure levels of ≥40 decibels (dB) Lnight (average aircraft noise level during the nighttime period) outside were considered for the sample frame. To maximize the likelihood that there will be a range of indoor noise levels in the sample frame, the investigators will use probability sampling stratified on outdoor aircraft noise contour levels. For each of the selected 77 airports, noise exposure contour strata, were determined using the FAA's Aviation Environmental Design Tool and 2018 traffic data. These noise contours are based on Lnight and include the 40, 45, 50, and 55 dB contour to allow for stratified sampling from the following areas: 40<45, 45<50, 50<55, ≥55 dB. From each noise stratum, 100 subjects will be recruited into the in-home field study. Mailing addresses for the recruitment survey will be selected randomly from all households across the 77 airports within each of the 4 noise strata.

The primary study outcome is aircraft noise-induced awakening probability depending on the maximum sound pressure level of single aircraft events. Analyses will be weighted to better reflect the sampling universe, but unweighted analyses will also be performed. Secondary outcomes include, but are not limited to, self-reported sleep disturbance depending on noise metrics referring to longer time periods (i.e., last night or past year).