Unipolar cardiac pacemakers in electromagnetic fields of high voltage overhead lines.

Journal of medical engineering & technology · 2005 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream

MixedLow evidencePaper 5174

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of medical engineering & technology · 2005

Study typeengineering

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Experimental studies have shown that both electric and magnetic extremely low frequency fields are able to disturb a cardiac pacemaker (CPM) at certain field strengths. However, the simultaneous influence of multiphase electric and magnetic fields beneath high voltage overhead lines (HVOLs) has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the distribution of the electric and the magnetic field as well as the phase angle between both components for an exemplary HVOL was numerically calculated. The calculations show that the phase difference of the capacitive and the inductive induced voltage on the input of an implanted cardiac pacemaker is position-dependent. Based on these and our earlier results a worst-case-scenario for two virtual patients beneath an exemplary HVOL was derived. It turned out that although the interference of CPMs by the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of HVOLs cannot be ruled out, the life-threatening interference condition 'inhibition by EMF' is unlikely. Due to various factors depending on technical parameters and the individual patient a definite answer about the disturbance of an implanted CPM beneath HVOLs can be given by studies with real CPM patients only.

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 typeengineering

Effect directionmixed

PopulationTwo virtual patients with implanted unipolar cardiac pacemakers (worst-case scenario)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Electric and magnetic field distributions and their phase relationship beneath an exemplary high voltage overhead line were numerically calculated, showing position-dependent phase differences in induced voltages at the pacemaker input. In a derived worst-case scenario for two virtual patients, interference could not be ruled out, but the life-threatening condition of pacemaker inhibition by EMF was considered unlikely; the authors state that definitive answers require studies with real pacemaker patients.

Outcomes measured

Pacemaker disturbance/interference under combined multiphase electric and magnetic fields beneath high voltage overhead lines
Likelihood of life-threatening pacemaker inhibition by EMF

Limitations

Numerical calculations and virtual patient scenarios rather than measurements in real pacemaker patients
Results based on an exemplary high voltage overhead line and a worst-case derivation; generalizability to other technical parameters and individual patients is uncertain
No definitive conclusion possible without studies involving real implanted pacemaker patients (as stated by authors)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "engineering",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "high voltage overhead lines",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Two virtual patients with implanted unipolar cardiac pacemakers (worst-case scenario)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Pacemaker disturbance/interference under combined multiphase electric and magnetic fields beneath high voltage overhead lines",
    "Likelihood of life-threatening pacemaker inhibition by EMF"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Electric and magnetic field distributions and their phase relationship beneath an exemplary high voltage overhead line were numerically calculated, showing position-dependent phase differences in induced voltages at the pacemaker input. In a derived worst-case scenario for two virtual patients, interference could not be ruled out, but the life-threatening condition of pacemaker inhibition by EMF was considered unlikely; the authors state that definitive answers require studies with real pacemaker patients.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Numerical calculations and virtual patient scenarios rather than measurements in real pacemaker patients",
    "Results based on an exemplary high voltage overhead line and a worst-case derivation; generalizability to other technical parameters and individual patients is uncertain",
    "No definitive conclusion possible without studies involving real implanted pacemaker patients (as stated by authors)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "unipolar cardiac pacemaker",
    "electromagnetic interference",
    "extremely low frequency",
    "electric field",
    "magnetic field",
    "high voltage overhead lines",
    "multiphase fields",
    "phase angle",
    "worst-case scenario"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.55,
      "reason": "Study concerns EMF exposure beneath high voltage overhead lines, relevant to environments where people may be present near power infrastructure."
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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: 10.1080/03091900410001731209
PubMed: 16012068

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library