The influence of the call with a mobile phone on heart rate variability parameters in healthy volunteers.

Industrial health · 2008 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5002

Study snapshot

PublicationIndustrial health · 2008

Study typeother

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

It is possible that electromagnetic field (EMF) generated by mobile phones (MP) may have an influence on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and modulates the function of circulatory system. The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of the call with a mobile phone on heart rate variability (HRV) in young healthy people. The time and frequency domain HRV analyses were performed to assess the changes in sympathovagal balance in a group of 32 healthy students with normal electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram at rest. The frequency domain variables were computed: ultra low frequency (ULF) power, very low frequency (VLF) power, low frequency (LF) power, high frequency (HF) power and LF/HF ratio was determined. ECG Holter monitoring was recorded in standardized conditions: from 08:00 to 09:00 in the morning in a sitting position, within 20 min periods: before the telephone call (period I), during the call with use of mobile phone (period II), and after the telephone call (period III). During 20 min call with a mobile phone time domain parameters such as standard deviation of all normal sinus RR intervals (SDNN [ms]--period I: 73.94+/-25.02, period II: 91.63+/-35.99, period III: 75.06+/-27.62; I-II: p<0.05, II-III: p<0.05) and standard deviation of the averaged normal sinus RR intervals for all 5-mm segments (SDANN [ms]--period I: 47.78+/-22.69, period II: 60.72+/-27.55, period III: 47.12+/-23.21; I-II: p<0.05, II-III: p<0.05) were significantly increased. As well as very low frequency (VLF [ms2]--period I: 456.62+/-214.13, period II: 566.84+/-216.99, period III: 477.43+/-203.94; I-II: p<0.05), low frequency (LF [ms(2)]--period I: 607.97+/-201.33, period II: 758.28+/-307.90, period III: 627.09+/-220.33; I-II: p<0.01, II-III: p<0.05) and high frequency (HF [ms(2)]--period I: 538.44+/-290.63, period II: 730.31+/-445.78, period III: 590.94+/-301.64; I-II: p<0.05) components were the highest and the LF/HF ratio (period I: 1.48+/-0.38, period II: 1.16+/-0.35, period III: 1.46+/-0.40; I-II: p<0.05, II-III: p<0.05) was the lowest during a call with a mobile phone. The tone of the parasympathetic system measured indirectly by analysis of heart rate variability was increased while sympathetic tone was lowered during the call with use of a mobile phone. It was shown that the call with a mobile phone may change the autonomic balance in healthy subjects. Changes in heart rate variability during the call with a mobile phone could be affected by electromagnetic field but the influence of speaking cannot be excluded.

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 typeother

Effect directionmixed

PopulationYoung healthy students/volunteers with normal ECG and echocardiogram at rest

Sample size32

ExposureRF · 20 min call (with before/during/after 20 min periods)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In 32 healthy students monitored under standardized conditions, SDNN and SDANN increased significantly during a 20-minute mobile phone call compared with before and after. VLF, LF, and HF power were highest during the call, while LF/HF ratio was lowest during the call; authors interpret this as increased parasympathetic tone and lowered sympathetic tone during the call. The abstract notes changes could be affected by EMF, but the influence of speaking cannot be excluded.

Outcomes measured

Heart rate variability (HRV) time-domain parameters (SDNN, SDANN)
HRV frequency-domain parameters (ULF, VLF, LF, HF)
LF/HF ratio
Autonomic nervous system balance (sympathovagal balance; parasympathetic vs sympathetic tone inferred from HRV)

Limitations

Frequency and SAR of the mobile phone exposure not reported in abstract
Potential confounding by speaking during the call cannot be excluded (explicitly stated)
Population limited to young healthy students; generalizability unclear
Short-term measurement during a single 20-minute call; long-term effects not assessed

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "20 min call (with before/during/after 20 min periods)"
  },
  "population": "Young healthy students/volunteers with normal ECG and echocardiogram at rest",
  "sample_size": 32,
  "outcomes": [
    "Heart rate variability (HRV) time-domain parameters (SDNN, SDANN)",
    "HRV frequency-domain parameters (ULF, VLF, LF, HF)",
    "LF/HF ratio",
    "Autonomic nervous system balance (sympathovagal balance; parasympathetic vs sympathetic tone inferred from HRV)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In 32 healthy students monitored under standardized conditions, SDNN and SDANN increased significantly during a 20-minute mobile phone call compared with before and after. VLF, LF, and HF power were highest during the call, while LF/HF ratio was lowest during the call; authors interpret this as increased parasympathetic tone and lowered sympathetic tone during the call. The abstract notes changes could be affected by EMF, but the influence of speaking cannot be excluded.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency and SAR of the mobile phone exposure not reported in abstract",
    "Potential confounding by speaking during the call cannot be excluded (explicitly stated)",
    "Population limited to young healthy students; generalizability unclear",
    "Short-term measurement during a single 20-minute call; long-term effects not assessed"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "electromagnetic field",
    "RF",
    "heart rate variability",
    "HRV",
    "autonomic nervous system",
    "parasympathetic",
    "sympathetic",
    "Holter monitoring",
    "healthy volunteers"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study evaluates physiological (HRV/ANS) changes during a mobile phone call, attributing possible role to EMF."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.2486/indhealth.46.409
PubMed: 18716391

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