Study type: Epidemiological study (observational study)

Occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and risk of Alzheimer disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis epidem.

Published in: Neurotoxicology 2018; 69: 242-252

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and the risk of Alzheimer disease.

Further details

Following 20 studies were included: Sobel et al (1995), Sobel et al (1996), Feychting et al (1998), Savitz et al (1998), Savitz et al (1998), Graves et al (1999), Noonan et al (2002), Feychting et al (2003), Hakansson et al (2003), Harmanci et al (2003), Qiu et al (2004), Park et al (2005), Davanipour et al (2007), Röösli et al (2007), Seidler et al (2007), Andel et al (2010), Sorahan and Mohammed (2014), Davanipour et al (2014), Koeman et al (2015) and Pedersen et al (2017).

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Exposure

Assessment

Population

Statistical analysis method:

Results (acc. to author)

An increased risk of Alzheimer disease was found for workers with occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (RR 1.63; CI 1.35-1.96). Higher risk estimates were obtained from case-control studies (OR 1.80; CI 1.40- 2.32) than from cohort studies (RR 1.42; CI 1.08-1.87).
The authors conclude that occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields might increase the risk of Alzheimer disease. However, this suggestion should be interpreted with caution given the moderate to high heterogeneity and indication for publication bias.

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