Study type: Epidemiological study (observational study)

Risk of pituitary tumors in cellular phone users: a case-control study epidem.

By: Schoemaker MJ, Swerdlow AJ
Published in: Epidemiology 2009; 20 (3): 348-354
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

A case-control study was conducted in Southeast England to evaluate the risk on developing pituitary tumors in relation to cellular phone use.

Further details

The study population is part of the INTERPHONE study. Regular use of a mobile phone was defined as having used a mobile phone for at least 6 months more than 1 year prior diagnosis date.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

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

Exposure

Assessment

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: 10-17
Group 6 lifetime years of use: 0.5-4
Group 7 lifetime years of use: 5-9
Group 8 lifetime years of use: 10-16
Group 9 cumulative number of calls: < 2203
Group 10 cumulative number of calls: 2203-8300
Group 11 cumulative number of calls: > 8300
Group 12 cumulative hours of use: < 116
Group 13 cumulative hours of use: 116-596
Group 14 cumulative hours of use: > 596
Group 15 cumulative hours of use by time since first use: < 10 years
Group 16 cumulative hours of use by time since first use: ≥ 10 years (< 51 hours)
Group 17 cumulative hours of use by time since first use: ≥ 10 years (≥ 51 hours)
Group 18 analogue phone use
Group 19 digital phone use

Population

Case group

Control group

Study size

Cases Controls
Eligible 506 1,464
Participants 317 630
Participation rate 63 % 43 %
Evaluable 291 630
Statistical analysis method: (adjustment: )

Results (acc. to author)

No association between the risk of developing a pituitary tumor and regular mobile phone use was found.

Study funded by

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