Epidemiological study (observational study)

Mobile phone use and risk of glioma in adults: case-control study epidem.

By: Hepworth SJ, Schoemaker MJ, Muir KR, Swerdlow AJ, van Tongeren M, McKinney PA

Published in: BMJ 2006; 332 (7546): 883-887

Aim of study (acc. to author)

This population-based case-control study was conducted in five areas of the United Kingdom to investigate the risk of glioma in adults in relation to mobile phone use. The study is part of the INTERPHONE project.

Further details

Regular mobile phone use was defined as use for at least six months in the period more than a year before diagnosis.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain tumor: glioma

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

- mobile communications
- analog mobile phone
- digital mobile phone
- personal

Assessment

Type of assessment: Individual
interview: models of mobile phone, network operator, start and stop year, number and duration of calls made and received
calculation: cumulative hours and numbers of use

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	never use or less than six months one year before diagnosis
Group 2	regular use
Group 3	years since first use: 1.5 - 4
Group 4	years since first use: 5 - 9
Group 5	years since first use: ≥ 10
Group 6	lifetime years of use: 0.5 - 4
Group 7	lifetime years of use: 5 - 9
Group 8	lifetime years of use: ≥ 10
Group 9	cumulative hours of use: ≤ 99
Group 10	cumulative hours of use: 99 - ≤ 544
Group 11	cumulative hours of use: > 544
Group 12	cumulative number of calls: ≤ 2071
Group 13	cumulative number of calls: 2071 - ≤ 6909
Group 14	cumulative number of calls: > 6909
Group 15	cumulative hours of use ≥ 10 years ago: 0
Group 16	cumulative hours of use ≥ 10 years ago: ≤ 113
Group 17	cumulative hours of use ≥ 10 years ago: > 113
Group 18	proportion urban/rural at first use: mainly urban
Group 19	proportion urban/rural at first use: mainly rural
Group 20	proportion urban/rural at first use: both
Group 21	frequency of use in those with high grade tumors: non-regular
Group 22	frequency of use in those with high grade tumors: regular
Group 23	frequency of use in those with low grade tumors: non-regular
Group 24	frequency of use in those with low grade tumors: regular
Group 25	frequency of ipsilateral use: never/non-regular
Group 26	frequency of ipsilateral use: regular
Group 27	frequency of contralateral use: never/non-regular
Group 28	frequency of contralateral use: regular

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 18–69 years
Observation period: December 2000 - June 2003, partly until February 2004
Study location: UK (5 regions)

Case group

Characteristics: glioma
Data source: hospital departments, cancer registry

Control group

Selection:
- population-based
Matching:
- sex
- age
- area

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Participants	966	1,716
Participation rate	51 %	45 %

Statistical analysis method:

unconditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

5-year age group
sex
residential area
deprivation, combinations of interview year and lag time

)

Results (acc. to author)

There was no relation for risk of glioma and use of mobile phone. An increased risk for tumour ipsilateral to side of phone use and a reduced risk for contralateral use was found which might be due to recall bias.

Limitations (acc. to author)

The observation period was only 10 years.

Study funded by

3
Department of Health, UK
Health and Safety Executive, UK
International Union against Cancer (UICC; Union Internationale Contre le Cancer), Switzerland
Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR), UK
O2
Orange
Scottish Executive/Scottish Ministers, UK
T-Mobile
Vodafone

Comments on this article

Kundi M (2006): Mobile phone use and risk of glioma in adults: conclusions are questionable
Morgan LL (2006): Mobile phone use and risk of glioma in adults: study has many flaws
Hardell L et al. (2006): Mobile phone use and risk of glioma in adults: results are difficult to interpret because of limitations
King A (2006): Mobile phone use does not increase risk of glioma

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