Reaction of circulatory system to stress and electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones - 24-hour monitoring of ECG and blood pressure

2019 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1745

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Reaction of circulatory system to stress and electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones - 24-hour monitoring of ECG and blood pressure Szyjkowska A, Gadzicka E, Szymczak W, Bortkiewicz A. [The reaction of the circulatory system to stress and electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones - 24-h monitoring of ECG and blood pressure]. [Article in Polish]. Med Pr. 2019 Jun 27. pii: 102360. doi: 10.13075/mp.5893.0080. Abstract BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have shown cardiovascular effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by mobile phones (e.g., prolonged QTc interval and abnormal blood pressure [BP] values). Also, stress may have an impact on the cardiovascular function. However, there are practically no data regarding the joint effect of exposure to stress and EMF, with both factors pertaining, e.g., to employees of mobile network operators. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Out of 208 subjects who had taken part in survey research, 55 workers agreed to undergo resting ECG, 24-h ECG and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Their health condition, occupational and life-stress levels and EMF exposure were also assessed. RESULTS: Among the workers using mobile phones for more than 60 min daily, the systolic BP values in office measurement and at night-time in ABPM were significantly higher than among the workers spending less time talking on mobile phones (p = 0.04 and p = 0.036, respectively). The workers with the highest level of occupational stress showed significantly higher systolic 24-h BP (p = 0.007) and at day-time (p = 0.002), both during work (p = 0.010) and after work (p = 0.005), and higher diastolic BP values at day-time (p = 0.028). Cardiovascular response was strongly gender-related: males showed more BP abnormalities while females displayed more impairments in ECG records. The heart rate from 24 h was significantly correlated with the level of occupational stress, after adjusting for gender, life-stress and EMF. CONCLUSIONS: The findings obtained thus far have indicated the need to conduct in-depth studies on the impact of stress and EMF emitted by mobile phones on the health effects, in order to clarify the observed gender-related differences in cardiovascular response to the combined exposure to stress and EMF Open access paper: medpr.imp.lodz.pl ELEKTROMAGNETYCZNE-EMITOWANE-PRZEZ-TELEFONY,102360,0,2.html

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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 typecross_sectional

Effect directionmixed

PopulationWorkers (employees; context includes mobile network operators) who participated in survey research; subset underwent ECG and blood pressure monitoring

Sample size55

ExposureRF · >60 min daily (talk time) vs less

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Among workers using mobile phones for more than 60 min daily, systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in office measurement and at night-time in ABPM compared with those spending less time talking on mobile phones (p=0.04; p=0.036). Workers with the highest occupational stress had significantly higher systolic BP across 24-h and day-time measures (including during and after work) and higher day-time diastolic BP. Cardiovascular response differed by gender (males: more BP abnormalities; females: more ECG impairments), and 24-h heart rate correlated with occupational stress after adjustment for gender, life-stress, and EMF.

Outcomes measured

Systolic blood pressure (office measurement)
Systolic blood pressure (24-h ABPM; including night-time and day-time, during and after work)
Diastolic blood pressure (ABPM day-time)
ECG impairments/abnormalities (resting ECG and 24-h ECG)
Heart rate (24-h)

Limitations

Observational/cross-sectional design (no causal inference)
Small monitored sample (55 of 208 survey participants)
Exposure characterized by self-reported mobile phone use duration; EMF exposure metrics not specified in abstract
Frequency/SAR and detailed exposure assessment not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": ">60 min daily (talk time) vs less"
  },
  "population": "Workers (employees; context includes mobile network operators) who participated in survey research; subset underwent ECG and blood pressure monitoring",
  "sample_size": 55,
  "outcomes": [
    "Systolic blood pressure (office measurement)",
    "Systolic blood pressure (24-h ABPM; including night-time and day-time, during and after work)",
    "Diastolic blood pressure (ABPM day-time)",
    "ECG impairments/abnormalities (resting ECG and 24-h ECG)",
    "Heart rate (24-h)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Among workers using mobile phones for more than 60 min daily, systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in office measurement and at night-time in ABPM compared with those spending less time talking on mobile phones (p=0.04; p=0.036). Workers with the highest occupational stress had significantly higher systolic BP across 24-h and day-time measures (including during and after work) and higher day-time diastolic BP. Cardiovascular response differed by gender (males: more BP abnormalities; females: more ECG impairments), and 24-h heart rate correlated with occupational stress after adjustment for gender, life-stress, and EMF.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Observational/cross-sectional design (no causal inference)",
    "Small monitored sample (55 of 208 survey participants)",
    "Exposure characterized by self-reported mobile phone use duration; EMF exposure metrics not specified in abstract",
    "Frequency/SAR and detailed exposure assessment not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phones",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "RF",
    "occupational stress",
    "ambulatory blood pressure monitoring",
    "ABPM",
    "24-hour ECG",
    "heart rate",
    "gender differences",
    "workers"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.78,
      "reason": "Study population is workers; assesses occupational stress and EMF exposure in an occupational context."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.13075/mp.5893.0080
PubMed: Not supplied

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