Study type: Epidemiological study (observational study)

Decreased Survival of Glioma Patients with Astrocytoma Grade IV (Glioblastoma Multiforme) Associated with Long-Term Use of Mobile and Cordless Phones epidem.

Published in: Int J Environ Res Public Health 2014; 11 (10): 10790-10805

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Survival of patients after glioma diagnosis in relation to the use of mobile phones and cordless phones was investigated in a case-control study in Sweden. The present study is an update of the previous study by Hardell and Carlberg (2013) and based on the study population of the case-control studies of Hardell et al (2006), Hardell et al (2011), Hardell et al (2010) and Hardell et al (2010).

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Exposure

Assessment

Exposure groups

Group Description
Group 1 unexposed: no mobile or cordless phone use or less than 1 year
Group 2 mobile phone (analog and digital) use > 1 - 5 years
Group 3 mobile phone use > 5 - 10 years
Group 4 mobile phone use > 10 - 15 years
Group 5 mobile phone use > 15 - 20 years
Group 6 mobile phone use > 20 years
Group 7 cordless phone use > 1 - 5 years
Group 8 cordless phone use > 5 - 10 years
Group 9 cordless phone use > 10 - 15 years
Group 10 cordless phone use > 15 - 20 years
Group 11 cordless phone use > 20 years
Group 12 mobile + cordless phone use > 1 to 5 years
Group 13 mobile + cordless phone use > 5 - 10 years
Group 14 mobile + cordless phone use > 10 - 15 years
Group 15 mobile + cordless phone use > 15 - 20 years
Group 16 mobile + cordless phone use > 20 years
Group 17 mobile phone, cumulative lifetime use: 1 - 122 h
Group 18 mobile phone, cumulative lifetime use: 123 - 496 h
Group 19 mobile phone, cumulative lifetime use: 497 - 1460 h
Group 20 mobile phone, cumulative lifetime use: > 1460 h
Group 21 cordless phone, cumulative lifetime use: 1 - 122 h
Group 22 cordless phone, cumulative lifetime use: 123 - 496 h
Group 23 cordless phone, cumulative lifetime use: 497 - 1460 h
Group 24 cordless phone, cumulative lifetime use: > 1460 h
Group 25 mobile + cordless phone, cumulative lifetime use: 1 - 122 h
Group 26 mobile + cordless phone, cumulative lifetime use: 123 - 496 h
Group 27 mobile + cordless phone, cumulative lifetime use: 497 - 1460 h
Group 28 mobile + cordless phone, cumulative lifetime use: > 1460 h

Population

Study size

Type Value
Eligible 1,678
Statistical analysis method: (adjustment: )

Results (acc. to author)

Use of mobile and cordless phones in the >20 years latency group (group 28) yielded an increased hazard ratio of 1.7, (CI 1.2-2.3) for decreased survival of glioma. For the survival of the most common glioma type (astrocytoma grade IV, n=926) mobile phone use yielded hazard ratio of 2.0, (CI 1.4-2.9) and cordless phone use a hazard ratio of 3.4, (CI 1.04-11) in the same latency category. The hazard ratio for astrocytoma grade IV increased statistically significant per year of latency for wireless phones, (HR 1.020, CI 1.007-1.033), but not per 100 h cumulative use (HR 1.002, CI 0.999-1.005). No statistically significant increased hazard ratios were observed for other types of glioma.
The authors conclude that the present study strengthens the proposed causal association between use of mobile phones as well as cordless phones and glioma.

Study funded by

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