Investigation of bias related to differences between case and control interview dates in five INTERPHONE countries

2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1446

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2016

Study typecase_control

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Investigation of bias related to differences between case and control interview dates in five INTERPHONE countries Michelle C. Turner, Siegal Sadetzki, Chelsea E. Langer, Rodrigo Villegas, Jordi Figuerola, Bruce K. Armstrong, Angela Chetrit, Graham G. Giles, Daniel Krewski, Martine Hours, Mary L. McBride, Marie-Elise Parent, Lesley Richardson, Jack Siemiatycki, Alistair Woodward, Elisabeth Cardis. Investigation of bias related to differences between case and control interview dates in five INTERPHONE countries. Annals of Epidemiology. dx.doi.org, Epub first Oct 8, 2016. Abstract Purpose Associations between cellular telephone use and glioma risk have been examined in several epidemiological studies including the 13-country INTERPHONE study. Although results showed no positive association between cellular telephone use and glioma risk overall, no increased risk for long term users, and no exposure-response relationship, there was an elevated risk for those in the highest decile of cumulative call time. However, results may be biased as data were collected during a period of rapidly increasing cellular telephone use, and as controls were usually interviewed later in time than cases. Methods Further analyses were conducted in a subset of five INTERPHONE study countries (Australia, Canada, France, Israel, New Zealand) using a post-hoc matching strategy to optimize proximity of case to control interview dates and age. Results Though results were generally similar to the original INTERPHONE study, there was some attenuation of the reduced odds ratios and stronger positive associations among long term users and those in the highest categories for cumulative call time and number of calls (8-9th and 10th decile). Conclusions Proximity and symmetry in timing of case to control interviews should be optimized when exposure patterns are changing rapidly with time. sciencedirect.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 typecase_control

Effect directionmixed

PopulationParticipants in a subset of five INTERPHONE study countries (Australia, Canada, France, Israel, New Zealand); glioma cases and controls

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Using a post-hoc matching strategy to better align case and control interview dates (and age), results were generally similar to the original INTERPHONE findings. The re-matched analyses showed attenuation of reduced odds ratios and stronger positive associations among long-term users and those in the highest categories/deciles of cumulative call time and number of calls (8–9th and 10th decile).

Outcomes measured

Glioma risk (odds ratios) in relation to cellular telephone use

Limitations

Potential bias due to rapidly increasing mobile phone use over time and later interview dates for controls than cases in the original study
Post-hoc matching strategy (subset analysis) rather than original design
Subset limited to five INTERPHONE countries (Australia, Canada, France, Israel, New Zealand)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "case_control",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Participants in a subset of five INTERPHONE study countries (Australia, Canada, France, Israel, New Zealand); glioma cases and controls",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Glioma risk (odds ratios) in relation to cellular telephone use"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using a post-hoc matching strategy to better align case and control interview dates (and age), results were generally similar to the original INTERPHONE findings. The re-matched analyses showed attenuation of reduced odds ratios and stronger positive associations among long-term users and those in the highest categories/deciles of cumulative call time and number of calls (8–9th and 10th decile).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Potential bias due to rapidly increasing mobile phone use over time and later interview dates for controls than cases in the original study",
    "Post-hoc matching strategy (subset analysis) rather than original design",
    "Subset limited to five INTERPHONE countries (Australia, Canada, France, Israel, New Zealand)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "INTERPHONE",
    "glioma",
    "cellular telephone use",
    "case-control",
    "interview date",
    "bias",
    "cumulative call time",
    "number of calls"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.4,
      "reason": "Study concerns mobile phone use and glioma within the INTERPHONE framework, often referenced in major RF health risk assessments."
    }
  ]
}

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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.annepidem.2016.09.013
PubMed: Not supplied

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