Epidemiological study (observational study)

Meningioma and mobile phone use - a collaborative case-control study in five North European countries epidem.

By: Lahkola A, Salminen T, Raitanen J, Heinävaara S, Schoemaker MJ, Christensen HC, Feychting M, Johansen C, Klaeboe L, Lönn S, Swerdlow AJ, Tynes T, Auvinen A

Published in: Int J Epidemiol 2008; 37 (6): 1304-1313

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

The collaborative population-based case-control study was conducted in five North European countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Southeast England) to investigate the possible association of meningioma with use of mobile phones.
This study is part of the INTERPHONE project.

Further details

The Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian studies have been published previously (publication 11887, publication 11648, and publication 14543). Furthermore, collaborative analysis of acoustic neuroma (publication 12419) and glioma (publication 14460) based on these studies have been reported previously (publication 12419).
Regular use of a mobile phone was defined as at least once a week for at least six months.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain tumor: meningioma

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

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

Assessment

interview: mobile phone use, including start and end dates of use, frequency and laterality of use, type of phone, use of hands-free devices, and other factors, such as type of telephone network
calculation: cumulative hours of use based on average number and duration of calls

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	never or nonregular use
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 number of calls: < 2195
Group 10	cumulative number of calls: 2195 - 7790
Group 11	cumulative number of calls: > 7790
Group 12	cumulative hours of use: < 125
Group 13	cumulative hours of use: 125 - 514
Group 14	cumulative hours of use: > 514
Group 15	cumulative number of calls by time since first use: < 10 years
Group 16	cumulative number of calls by time since first use: ≥ 10 years (≤ 1537 calls)
Group 17	cumulative number of calls by time since first use: ≥ 10 years (> 1537 calls)
Group 18	cumulative hours of use by time since first use: < 10 years
Group 19	cumulative hours of use by time since first use: ≥ 10 years (≤ 70 hours)
Group 20	cumulative hours of use by time since first use: ≥ 10 years (> 70 hours)
Group 21	analogue phone use
Group 22	digital phone use
Reference group 23	nonregular use
Group 24	regular ipsilateral phone use
Group 25	ipsilateral, years since first use: 1.5 - 4
Group 26	ipsilateral, years since first use: 5 - 9
Group 27	ipsilateral, years since first use: ≥ 10
Reference group 28	nonregular use
Group 29	contralateral, years since first use: 1.5 - 4
Group 30	contralateral, years since first use: 5 - 9
Group 31	contralateral, years since first use: ≥ 10

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 20–69 years
Observation period: September 1999 - February 2004
Study location: Denmark, Finland (excluding Northern Lapland and Aland), Norway (the Southern and Middle parts), Sweden (Umea, Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Lund regions), United Kingdom (Thames region of Southeast England)

Case group

Characteristics: meningioma
Data source: neurosurgery, oncology, and neurology departments in the study areas, cancer registries

Control group

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

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	1,629	6,581
Participants	1,209	3,299
Participation rate	74 %	50 %
Evaluable	1,204	2,945

Statistical analysis method:

conditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

5-year age group
sex
region, country

)

Results (acc. to author)

No evidence of increased risk of meningioma in relation to use of mobile phones was found. Regular use, years since first use, lifetime years of use and cumulative number of calls were not associated with an increased risk. No increased risk was found in relation to ipsilateral use or use of analogue and digital mobile phones.
The authors concluded that the findings do not suggest that mobile phone use is associated with an increased risk of meningioma.

Study funded by

Academy of Finland
Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Finland
European Union (EU)/European Commission
GSM Association, UK/Ireland
International Union against Cancer (UICC; Union Internationale Contre le Cancer), Switzerland
Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF), Belgium
Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR), UK
Swedish Research Council (VR)

Comments on this article

Morgan LL (2010): Reader's response: meningioma and mobile phone use--a collaborative case-control study in five North European countries
Milham S (2010): Meningioma and mobile phone use
Auvinen A et al. (2010): Author's Response. Response to commentary: Meningioma and mobile phone use - a collaborative case-control study in five North European countries
Saracci R et al. (2008): Commentary: Observational studies may conceal a weakly elevated risk under the appearance of consistently reduced risks

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