Study type: Epidemiological study (observational study)

On the association between glioma, wireless phones, heredity and ionising radiation epidem.

Published in: Pathophysiology 2012; 19 (4): 243-252

Aim of study (acc. to author)

An overview of the pooled analysis by Hardell et al. (2011) on the association of malignant brain tumors and the use of mobile and cordless phones is given; the focus is on glioma and laterality. Furthermore, the established risk factors heredity and ionizing radiation as well as interaction with use of wireless phones are evaluated.

Further details

Following studies were included in the pooled-analysis by Hardell et al (2011) including all alive and deceased cases between 1997-2003: The first case-control study regarding the period 1997-2000 was published in the publications 9520 and 9895, the second study regarding the period 2000-2003 in publications 12068 and 12259, and the third study regarding deceased cases and controls in the period 1997-2003 in publication 18358.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation: (odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

Assessment

Exposure groups

Group Description
Reference group 1 unexposed: no mobile or cordless phone use or less than 1 year
Group 2 mobile + cordless phone use, > 1 to 5 years
Group 3 mobile + cordless phone use, > 5 to 10 years
Group 4 mobile + cordless phone use, > 10 years
Group 5 mobile + cordless phone use, total, > 1 year
Group 6 mobile phone use, > 1 to 5 years
Group 7 mobile phone use, > 5 to 10 years
Group 8 mobile phone use, > 5 to 10 years
Group 9 mobile phone use, total, > 1 year
Group 10 cordless phone use, > 1 to 5 years
Group 11 cordless phone use, > 5 to 10 years
Group 12 cordless phone use, > 10 years
Group 13 cordless phone use, total, > 1 year
Group 14 mobile + cordless phone use, first tercile: 1 - 91 h
Group 15 mobile + cordless phone use, second tercile: 92 - 426 h
Group 16 mobile + cordless phone use, third tercile: > 426 h
Group 17 mobile + cordless phone use, per 100 h cumulative use
Group 18 mobile + cordless phone use, per year of use
Group 19 mobile phone use, first tercile: 1 - 36 h
Group 20 mobile phone use, second tercile: 37 - 183 h
Group 21 mobile phone use, third tercile: > 183 h
Group 22 mobile phone use, per 100 h cumulative use
Group 23 mobile phone use, per year of use
Group 24 cordless phone use, first tercile: 1 - 122 h
Group 25 cordless phone use, second tercile: 123 - 456 h
Group 26 cordless phone use, third tercile: > 456 h
Group 27 cordless phone use, per 100 h cumulative use
Group 28 cordless phone use, per year of use
Group 29 mobile + cordless phone use, first use < 20 years old
Group 30 mobile + cordless phone use, first use 20 - 49 years old
Group 31 mobile + cordless phone use, first use ≥ 50 years old
Group 32 mobile phone use, first use < 20 years old
Group 33 mobile phone use, first use 20 - 49 years old
Group 34 mobile phone use, first use ≥ 50 years old
Group 35 cordless phone use, first use < 20 years old
Group 36 cordless phone use, first use 20 - 49 years old
Group 37 cordless phone use, first use ≥ 50 years old

Population

Case group

Control group

Study size

Cases Controls
Eligible 1,472 2,900
Participants 1,251 2,438
Participation rate 85 % 84 %
Other:

1184 out of 1251 cases of malignant brain tumors were gliomas

Statistical analysis method: (adjustment: )

Results (acc. to author)

An increased risk for glioma and ipsilateral use of mobile phone was observed (OR 2.9, CI 1.8-4.7) in the >10 years latency group and corresponding for cordless phone use (OR 3.8, CI 1.8-8.1). For high-grade glioma (astrocytoma), an increased risk was found for ipsilateral use of mobile phone (OR 3.9, CI 2.3-6.6) and cordless phone (OR 5.5, CI 2.3-13) in the >10 years latency group. No interaction between X-ray investigation of the head as well as heredity risk factors and use of wireless phones was found.
Concordantly with the previous publication the authors concluded that the risk for glioma increased with latency time and cumulative use of mobile phones and cordless phones in hours and was highest in subjects with first use before the age of 20.

Study funded by

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