The association between real-life markers of phone use and cognitive performance, health-related quality of life and sleep

Environmental research · 2023 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 491

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental research · 2023

Study typecohort

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The association between real-life markers of phone use and cognitive performance, health-related quality of life and sleep Eeftens M, Pujol S, Klaiber A, Chopard G, Riss A, Smayra F, Flückiger B, Gehin T, Diallo K, Wiart J, Mazloum T, Mauny F, Röösli M. The association between real-life markers of phone use and cognitive performance, health- related quality of life and sleep. Environ Res. 2023 Apr 29:116011. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116011. Abstract Introduction: The real-life short-term implications of electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on cognitive performance and health-related quality of life have not been well studied. The SPUTNIC study (Study Panel on Upcoming Technologies to study Non-Ionizing radiation and Cognition) aimed to investigate possible correlations between mobile phone radiation and human health, including cognition, health-related quality of life and sleep. Methods: Adult participants tracked various daily markers of RF-EMF exposures (cordless calls, mobile calls, and mobile screen time 4 h prior to each assessment) as well as three health outcomes over ten study days: 1) cognitive performance, 2) health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and 3) sleep duration and quality. Cognitive performance was measured through six "game-like" tests, assessing verbal and visuo-spatial performance repeatedly. HRQoL was assessed as fatigue, mood and stress on a Likert-scale (1-10). Sleep duration and efficiency was measured using activity trackers. We fitted mixed models with random intercepts per participant on cognitive, HRQoL and sleep scores. Possible time-varying confounders were assessed at daily intervals by questionnaire and used for model adjustment. Results: A total of 121 participants ultimately took part in the SPUTNIC study, including 63 from Besancon and 58 from Basel. Self-reported wireless phone use and screen time were sporadically associated with visuo-spatial and verbal cognitive performance, compatible with chance findings. We found a small but robust significant increase in stress 0.03 (0.00-0.06; on a 1-10 Likert-scale) in relation to a 10-min increase in mobile phone screen time. Sleep duration and quality were not associated with either cordless or mobile phone calls, or with screen time. Discussion: The study did not find associations between short-term RF-EMF markers and cognitive performance, HRQoL, or sleep duration and quality. The most consistent finding was increased stress in relation to more screen time, but no association with cordless or mobile phone call time. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecohort

Effect directionmixed

PopulationAdults (participants from Besancon and Basel)

Sample size121

ExposureRF · short-term; markers assessed daily over 10 study days (e.g., calls and screen time 4 h prior to each assessment)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In 121 adults followed over 10 days, self-reported cordless/mobile call time and mobile screen time showed only sporadic associations with cognitive performance that were described as compatible with chance. A small but statistically significant increase in stress was observed in relation to a 10-minute increase in mobile phone screen time (0.03 on a 1–10 Likert scale; 0.00–0.06). Sleep duration and quality were not associated with cordless or mobile phone calls or with screen time.

Outcomes measured

Cognitive performance (verbal and visuo-spatial tests)
Health-related quality of life (fatigue, mood, stress)
Sleep duration
Sleep efficiency/quality

Limitations

RF-EMF exposure assessed via self-reported phone use/screen time markers rather than direct RF-EMF measurements
Short-term follow-up (10 days) focused on near-term associations
Cognitive associations described as sporadic and compatible with chance

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cohort",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "short-term; markers assessed daily over 10 study days (e.g., calls and screen time 4 h prior to each assessment)"
  },
  "population": "Adults (participants from Besancon and Basel)",
  "sample_size": 121,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cognitive performance (verbal and visuo-spatial tests)",
    "Health-related quality of life (fatigue, mood, stress)",
    "Sleep duration",
    "Sleep efficiency/quality"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In 121 adults followed over 10 days, self-reported cordless/mobile call time and mobile screen time showed only sporadic associations with cognitive performance that were described as compatible with chance. A small but statistically significant increase in stress was observed in relation to a 10-minute increase in mobile phone screen time (0.03 on a 1–10 Likert scale; 0.00–0.06). Sleep duration and quality were not associated with cordless or mobile phone calls or with screen time.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "RF-EMF exposure assessed via self-reported phone use/screen time markers rather than direct RF-EMF measurements",
    "Short-term follow-up (10 days) focused on near-term associations",
    "Cognitive associations described as sporadic and compatible with chance"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "mobile phone",
    "cordless phone",
    "screen time",
    "cognition",
    "cognitive performance",
    "health-related quality of life",
    "stress",
    "sleep",
    "SPUTNIC study"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study examines real-life markers of mobile/cordless phone use in relation to health outcomes."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116011
PubMed: 37127107

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