Mobile phone use and risk of brain tumours: a systematic review of association between study quality, source of funding, and research outcomes

{
  "publication_year": null,
  "study_type": "systematic_review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Overall use; long-term use ≥10 years (or >1640 h)"
  },
  "population": "Humans (case-control studies of mobile phone users and brain tumour risk)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Brain tumours"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This systematic review included 22 case-control studies and a meta-analysis of 14 case-control studies reported little to no overall increase in brain tumour risk (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.92–1.14). For long-term mobile phone use (≥10 years or >1640 h), the meta-analysis reported an increased risk (1.33 times). Metaregression suggested the association varied with methodological study quality, while the relationship with funding source was not statistically significant.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Included evidence was limited to case-control studies",
    "Evidence described as controversial in the abstract",
    "Variation in results associated with methodological study quality"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "high",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "stance": "concern",
  "stance_confidence": 0.7,
  "summary": "This systematic review assessed whether study quality and funding source explain variation in reported associations between mobile phone use and brain tumour risk. Across 14 case-control studies in meta-analysis, overall risk was near null, but long-term use (≥10 years or >1640 h) was associated with increased risk. Metaregression indicated study quality was significantly related to the observed association, while funding source was not.",
  "key_points": [
    "The review searched PubMed and Cochrane CENTRAL from 1966 to December 2016 and supplemented via reference lists.",
    "Twenty-two case-control studies were included in the systematic review, with 14 included in meta-analysis.",
    "Overall meta-analysis results suggested little to no increase in brain tumour risk with mobile phone use.",
    "Long-term mobile phone use (≥10 years or >1640 h) was associated with a reported increase in risk in meta-analysis.",
    "Metaregression reported a significant association between methodological study quality and the observed effect estimates.",
    "The abstract reports no statistically significant relationship between funding source and study effect estimates.",
    "The authors conclude evidence links mobile phone use and brain tumour risk especially among long-term users."
  ],
  "categories": [
    "RF Exposure",
    "Cell Phones",
    "Cancer",
    "Epidemiology",
    "Systematic Reviews & Meta-analyses"
  ],
  "tags": [
    "Mobile Phones",
    "Radiofrequency Radiation",
    "Brain Tumours",
    "Cancer Risk",
    "Case-Control Studies",
    "Meta-Analysis",
    "Systematic Review",
    "Long-Term Use",
    "Study Quality",
    "Funding Source"
  ],
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "brain tumours",
    "systematic review",
    "meta-analysis",
    "case-control",
    "methodological quality",
    "funding source",
    "long-term use"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "cell-phones",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Focuses on mobile phone use and brain tumour risk in human case-control studies."
    }
  ],
  "social": {
    "tweet": "Systematic review (22 case-control studies; meta-analysis of 14) found near-null overall brain tumour risk with mobile phone use, but reported increased risk for long-term use (≥10 years or >1640 h). Study quality was associated with effect estimates; funding source was not.",
    "facebook": "A systematic review of case-control studies reported little to no overall increase in brain tumour risk with mobile phone use, but an increased risk estimate among long-term users (≥10 years or >1640 h). The authors also report that methodological study quality was linked to the observed associations, while funding source was not.",
    "linkedin": "This systematic review of 22 case-control studies (meta-analysis of 14) reported a near-null overall association between mobile phone use and brain tumour risk, but an increased risk estimate among long-term users (≥10 years or >1640 h). Metaregression suggested study quality influenced reported outcomes, whereas funding source was not significantly associated with effect estimates."
  }
}