Epidemiological study (observational study)

Case-Control Study on Cellular and Cordless Telephones and the Risk for Acoustic Neuroma or Meningioma in Patients Diagnosed 2000-2003 epidem.

By: Hardell L, Carlberg M, Hansson Mild K

Published in: Neuroepidemiology 2005; 25 (3): 120-128

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A case-control study on the use of cellular and cordless telephones and the risk for brain tumors was conducted in Sweden.

Further details

This study reports results for benign brain tumors, mainly meningioma and acoustic neuroma, whereas the results for malignant brain tumors are presented in publication 12259.
Subjects who started their use of a mobile or cordless phone within one year prior diagnosis were classified as unexposed.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain tumor: benign brain tumors: meningioma, acoustic neuroma and other types

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

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

Assessment

questionnaire: mean number of daily calls and minutes, use in a car with fixed external antenna, use of hands-free device, ear most frequently used during calls, first part of telephone number (to differentiate between analogue and digital cellular phones)
interview: supplementing data
calculation: cumulative use in hours

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	unexposed
Group 2	analogue > 1- to 5-year latency period
Group 3	analogue > 5- to 10-year latency period
Group 4	analogue > 10-year latency period
Group 5	analogue total, > 1-year latency period
Group 6	analogue ≤ 80 h, > 1- to 5-year latency period
Group 7	analogue ≤ 80 h, > 5- to 10-year latency period
Group 8	analogue ≤ 80 h, > 10-year latency period
Group 9	analogue ≤ 80 h, total, > 1-year latency period
Group 10	analogue > 80 h, > 1- to 5-year latency period
Group 11	analogue > 80 h, > 5- to 10-year latency period
Group 12	analogue > 80 h, > 10-year latency period
Group 13	analogue > 80 h, total, > 1-year latency period
Group 14	digital > 1- to 5-year latency period
Group 15	digital > 5- to 10-year latency period
Group 16	digital > 10-year latency period
Group 17	digital total, > 1-year latency period
Group 18	digital ≤ 64 h, > 1- to 5-year latency period
Group 19	digital ≤ 64 h, > 5- to 10-year latency period
Group 20	digital ≤ 64 h, > 10-year latency period
Group 21	digital ≤ 64 h, total, > 1-year latency period
Group 22	digital > 64 h, > 1- to 5-year latency period
Group 23	digital > 64 h, > 5- to 10-year latency period
Group 24	digital > 64 h, > 10-year latency period
Group 25	digital > 64 h, total, > 1-year latency period
Group 26	cordless > 1- to 5-year latency period
Group 27	cordless > 5- to 10-year latency period
Group 28	cordless > 10-year latency period
Group 29	cordless total, > 1-year latency period
Group 30	cordless ≤ 243 h, > 1- to 5-year latency period
Group 31	cordless ≤ 243 h, > 5- to 10-year latency period
Group 32	cordless ≤ 243 h, > 10-year latency period
Group 33	cordless ≤ 243 h, total, > 1-year latency period
Group 34	cordless > 243 h, > 1- to 5-year latency period
Group 35	cordless > 243 h, > 5- to 10-year latency period
Group 36	cordless > 243 h, > 10-year latency period
Group 37	cordless > 243 h, > 10-year latency period

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 20–80 years
Observation period: July 2000 - December 2003
Study location: Sweden (Uppsala/Örebro and Linköping regions)

Case group

Characteristics: benign brain tumor, histopathologically verified
Data source: Cancer Registry
Exclusion criteria: deceased, medical conditions

Control group

Selection:
- population-based
Matching:
- sex
- area
- 5-year age group

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	462	820
Participants	413	692
Participation rate	89 %	84 %

Statistical analysis method:

unconditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

age
sex
socioeconomic status
year of diagnosis

)

Results (acc. to author)

No use of cellular or cordless telephone was reported by 123 cases (29.8%) and 233 controls (33.7%).
An increased risk for acoustic neuroma and the use of analogue cellular phones was found. Regarding meningioma, the risk was slightly increased but based on low numbers.

Study funded by

Cancer och Allergifonden (Cancer and Allergy Foundation), Sweden
Cancerhjälpen (Cancerhelp), Sweden
Nyckelfonden, Sweden
Örebro Cancer Fund, Sweden

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