Relationship between the use of electronic devices and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis

2019 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1776

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019

Study typecase_control

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Relationship between the use of electronic devices and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis Khaki-Khatibi F, Nourazarian A, Ahmadi F, Farhoudi M, Savadi-Oskouei D, Pourostadi M, Asgharzadeh M. Relationship between the use of electronic devices and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. Cogn Neurodyn. 2019 Jun;13(3):287-292. doi: 10.1007/s11571-019-09524-1. Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Dirty electricity generated by electronic equipment is one of the environmental factors that may directly or indirectly impact MS susceptibility. The current Study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the usage time of electronic equipment and susceptibility to MS in North-West Iranian people. This approach was carried out upon 471 MS-diagnosed patients and 453 healthy participants as control group in East Province of Azerbaijan. By utilizing structured questionnaires, the information of all participants about usage status of some electronic devices was obtained. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics version 18.0 and the quantitative variables were analyzed by Chi Square and Independent sample t tests. P values below or equal to 0.05 were considered as significant. Among the evaluated items in this approach, the utilization of cell phones and satellite television dishes were significantly higher in MS patients (p < 0.001, p = 0.07). Furthermore, a correlation was observed between sleeping with cell phone and/or laptop under the pillow (p = 0.011) and MS disease; however, there was no significant differences between MS patients and controls in computer using and television watching. Our study reinforces the concept that the utilization of some electronic devices and the continuous exposure to dirty electricity would increase the risk of MS disease thereupon by enhancing the cognizance of adverse effects of dirty electricity and reducing the time spent over electronic devices during adolescence and adulthood the occurrence probability of MS could be declined. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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

PopulationNorth-West Iranian people (East Province of Azerbaijan); MS-diagnosed patients and healthy controls

Sample size924

Exposureusage time; sleeping with cell phone and/or laptop under the pillow

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In questionnaire-based comparisons, use of cell phones and satellite television dishes was reported as higher among MS patients than controls (reported p < 0.001 and p = 0.07, respectively). Sleeping with a cell phone and/or laptop under the pillow was reported as correlated with MS (p = 0.011). No significant differences were reported for computer use or television watching between MS patients and controls.

Outcomes measured

multiple sclerosis susceptibility/risk (case status)

Limitations

Exposure assessment based on structured questionnaires (self-reported device use)
No EMF/"dirty electricity" measurements or specific frequency/SAR characterization reported in abstract
Observational case-control design; causality cannot be established
One reported p-value for satellite dishes is 0.07 (not conventionally significant at 0.05 threshold)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "case_control",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "electronic devices (cell phone, laptop, computer, television, satellite television dishes); 'dirty electricity'",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "usage time; sleeping with cell phone and/or laptop under the pillow"
  },
  "population": "North-West Iranian people (East Province of Azerbaijan); MS-diagnosed patients and healthy controls",
  "sample_size": 924,
  "outcomes": [
    "multiple sclerosis susceptibility/risk (case status)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In questionnaire-based comparisons, use of cell phones and satellite television dishes was reported as higher among MS patients than controls (reported p < 0.001 and p = 0.07, respectively). Sleeping with a cell phone and/or laptop under the pillow was reported as correlated with MS (p = 0.011). No significant differences were reported for computer use or television watching between MS patients and controls.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure assessment based on structured questionnaires (self-reported device use)",
    "No EMF/\"dirty electricity\" measurements or specific frequency/SAR characterization reported in abstract",
    "Observational case-control design; causality cannot be established",
    "One reported p-value for satellite dishes is 0.07 (not conventionally significant at 0.05 threshold)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "multiple sclerosis",
    "dirty electricity",
    "electronic devices",
    "cell phone",
    "laptop",
    "satellite television dish",
    "questionnaire",
    "case-control",
    "Iran"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.78,
      "reason": "Assesses cell phone use and sleeping with phone under pillow in relation to MS case status."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1007/s11571-019-09524-1
PubMed: Not supplied

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