Mobile phone and cordless phone use and the risk for glioma - Analysis of pooled case-control studies in Sweden, 1997-2003 and 2007-2009

Abstract

We made a pooled analysis of two case-control studies on malignant brain tumours with patients diagnosed during 1997-2003 and 2007-2009. They were aged 20-80 years and 18-75 years, respectively, at the time of diagnosis. Only cases with histopathological verification of the tumour were included. Population-based controls, matched on age and gender, were used. Exposures were assessed by questionnaire. The whole reference group was used in the unconditional regression analysis adjusted for gender, age, year of diagnosis, and socio-economic index. In total, 1498 (89%) cases and 3530 (87%) controls participated. Mobile phone use increased the risk of glioma, OR=1.3, 95% CI=1.1-1.6 overall, increasing to OR=3.0, 95% CI=1.7-5.2 in the >25 year latency group. Use of cordless phones increased the risk to OR=1.4, 95% CI=1.1-1.7, with highest risk in the >15-20 years latency group yielding OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.1-2.5. The OR increased statistically significant both per 100h of cumulative use, and per year of latency for mobile and cordless phone use. Highest ORs overall were found for ipsilateral mobile or cordless phone use, OR=1.8, 95% CI=1.4-2.2 and OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.3-2.1, respectively. The highest risk was found for glioma in the temporal lobe. First use of mobile or cordless phone before the age of 20 gave higher OR for glioma than in later age groups.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In this pooled analysis of two Swedish case-control studies, mobile phone use was associated with increased glioma risk overall (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6), rising to OR 3.0 (95% CI 1.7-5.2) in the >25-year latency group. Cordless phone use was also associated with increased glioma risk (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.7), with higher odds for longer latency and ipsilateral use; the highest risk was reported for temporal lobe glioma.

Outcomes measured

• glioma risk
• temporal lobe glioma
• ipsilateral glioma

Limitations

• Case-control design
• Exposure assessed by questionnaire
• Participation was incomplete (89% of cases, 87% of controls)

{
    "study_type": "policy",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone; cordless phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": ">25 years latency for mobile phone; >15-20 years latency for cordless phone"
    },
    "population": "Swedish malignant brain tumour cases and population-based controls; adults aged 20-80 years and 18-75 years in two study periods",
    "sample_size": 5028,
    "outcomes": [
        "glioma risk",
        "temporal lobe glioma",
        "ipsilateral glioma"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In this pooled analysis of two Swedish case-control studies, mobile phone use was associated with increased glioma risk overall (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6), rising to OR 3.0 (95% CI 1.7-5.2) in the >25-year latency group. Cordless phone use was also associated with increased glioma risk (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.7), with higher odds for longer latency and ipsilateral use; the highest risk was reported for temporal lobe glioma.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Case-control design",
        "Exposure assessed by questionnaire",
        "Participation was incomplete (89% of cases, 87% of controls)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.9499999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "glioma",
        "brain tumour",
        "mobile phone",
        "cordless phone",
        "RF",
        "case-control",
        "latency",
        "ipsilateral use",
        "Sweden"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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