An experimental study on effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on sleep in healthy elderly males and females: Gender matters!

2020 · Mixed · Moderate evidence

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MixedModerate evidencePaper 1599

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2020

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

An experimental study on effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on sleep in healthy elderly males and females: Gender matters! Danker-Hopfe H, Dorn H, Sauter C, Schmid G, Eggert T. An experimental study on effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on sleep in healthy elderly males and females: Gender matters! Environmental Research. 183, April 2020, 109181 doi.org Highlights • First paper to investigate gender specific RF-EMF effects in elderly subjects. • RF-EMF affects approximately 10% of the sleep variables directly. • RF-EMF affects approximately 12% of the sleep variables differently in men and women. • Women are more affected than men. • None of the observed effects is indicative of a disturbed sleep. Abstract Background Results from human experimental studies investigating possible effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on sleep are heterogeneous. So far, there is no study on possible sex- differences in RF-EMF effects. Objectives The present study aimed at analyzing differences in RF-EMF effects on the macrostructure of sleep between healthy elderly males and females. Methods With a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled cross-over design effects of two RF-EMF exposures (GSM900 and TETRA) on sleep were investigated in samples of 30 elderly healthy male and 30 healthy elderly female volunteers. Participants underwent each of the three exposure conditions on three occassions following an individually randomized order resulting in a total of nine study nights per participant. Exposure was delivered for 30 min prior to sleep and for the whole night (7.5 h) by a head worn antenna specifically designed for the projects. The peak spatial absorption rate averaged over time in head tissues (psSAR10g) was 6 W/kg for TETRA and 2 W/kg for GSM900. Thirty variables characterising the macrostructure of sleep and arousals as well as four subjective sleep variables were considered for statistical analyses. Results Multivariate analyses revealed that exposure to GSM900 and/or TETRA resulted in a significant reduction in arousals, a shorter latency to sleep stage N3, and a shorter self-reported time awake after sleep in both males and females. Exposure effects depending on sex (significant interactions) were observed. Latency to sleep stage R was shorter in females and tended to be longer in males under both exposures. Latency to stage N3 was shorter in females under TETRA exposure and almost not affected in males. The time awake within the sleep period under TETRA exposure was shorter in females and only slightly longer in males. Under GSM exposure, the self-rated total sleep time tended to be longer in females and to be shorter in males. Finally, the number of awakenings was lower only in females and tended to be higher in males under GSM exposure. Discussion With regard to RF-EMF effects on human sleep it seems that gender matters since GSM900 and TETRA led to significantly more exposure effects in females. Regardless of gender, none of the observed changes is indicative of a sleep disturbing effect of RF-EMF exposure. Observed effects might be mediated by skin related thermoregulatory mechanisms. sciencedirect.com

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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 typerandomized_trial

Effect directionmixed

PopulationHealthy elderly male and female volunteers

Sample size60

ExposureRF · 30 min prior to sleep and for the whole night (7.5 h); three exposure conditions across nine study nights per participant

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled cross-over study (30 elderly males, 30 elderly females), GSM900 and/or TETRA exposure was associated with reduced arousals, shorter latency to sleep stage N3, and shorter self-reported time awake after sleep in both sexes. Sex-dependent effects were reported, with several measures showing greater changes in females than males; the authors state none of the observed changes indicated disturbed sleep.

Outcomes measured

Sleep macrostructure variables (30 variables)
Arousals
Subjective sleep variables (4 variables)
Latency to sleep stage N3
Latency to sleep stage R
Time awake after sleep onset / within sleep period
Number of awakenings
Self-rated total sleep time

Limitations

Frequency values not explicitly stated in the abstract for both exposures (only names GSM900 and TETRA)
Only healthy elderly volunteers; generalizability to other age groups/health conditions unclear from abstract
Multiple sleep variables tested; risk of chance findings not addressed in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "head worn antenna",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "30 min prior to sleep and for the whole night (7.5 h); three exposure conditions across nine study nights per participant"
  },
  "population": "Healthy elderly male and female volunteers",
  "sample_size": 60,
  "outcomes": [
    "Sleep macrostructure variables (30 variables)",
    "Arousals",
    "Subjective sleep variables (4 variables)",
    "Latency to sleep stage N3",
    "Latency to sleep stage R",
    "Time awake after sleep onset / within sleep period",
    "Number of awakenings",
    "Self-rated total sleep time"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled cross-over study (30 elderly males, 30 elderly females), GSM900 and/or TETRA exposure was associated with reduced arousals, shorter latency to sleep stage N3, and shorter self-reported time awake after sleep in both sexes. Sex-dependent effects were reported, with several measures showing greater changes in females than males; the authors state none of the observed changes indicated disturbed sleep.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency values not explicitly stated in the abstract for both exposures (only names GSM900 and TETRA)",
    "Only healthy elderly volunteers; generalizability to other age groups/health conditions unclear from abstract",
    "Multiple sleep variables tested; risk of chance findings not addressed in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "sleep",
    "elderly",
    "gender differences",
    "double-blind",
    "randomized",
    "sham-controlled",
    "cross-over",
    "GSM900",
    "TETRA",
    "psSAR10g",
    "arousals",
    "sleep stages"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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.2020.109181
PubMed: Not supplied

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