Epidemiological study (observational study)

Tinnitus and mobile phone use epidem.

By: Hutter HP, Moshammer H, Wallner P, Cartellieri M, Denk-Linnert DM, Katzinger M, Ehrenberger K, Kundi M

Published in: Occup Environ Med 2010; 67 (12): 804-808

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A case-control study was conducted in Austria to investigate whether mobile phone use increases the risk of tinnitus.

Further details

The energy of the mobile phone is predominantly absorbed at the side of the head to which the mobile phone is held during the calls. Therefore, the laterality of mobile phone use and tinnitus was examined, i.e. whether the mobile phone was held on the same side of the head where the tinnitus later developed (ipsilateral) oder on the opposite side (contralateral). As only a small number of participants used their mobile phones exclusively on one side of the head, the use of each participant was divided into ipsilateral and contralateral fractions.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

tinnitus

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- personal

Assessment

questionnaire: standarized Interphone questionnaire (mobile phone use, type of mobile phone, duration and intensity of use, side of the head where the mobile phone was predominantly held, use of hands-free devices, in urban/rural areas and in cars)

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	mobile phone use, ipsilateral: never
Group 2	mobile phone use, ipsilateral: ever
Reference group 3	mobile phone use, contralateral: never
Group 4	mobile phone use, contralateral: ever
Reference group 5	mobile phone use, overall: never
Group 6	mobile phone use, overall: ever
Group 7	average mobile phone use duration, ipsilateral: < 10 min/day
Group 8	average mobile phone use duration, ipsilateral: ≥ 10 min/day
Group 9	average mobile phone use duration, contralateral: < 10 min/day
Group 10	average mobile phone use duration, contralateral: ≥ 10 min/day
Group 11	average mobile phone use duration, overall: < 10 min/day
Group 12	average mobile phone use duration, overall: ≥ 10 min/day
Group 13	cumulative hours of mobile phone use, ipsilateral: < 160 h
Group 14	cumulative hours of mobile phone use, ipsilateral: ≥ 160 h
Group 15	cumulative hours of mobile phone use, contralateral: < 160 h
Group 16	cumulative hours of mobile phone use, contralateral: ≥ 160 h
Group 17	cumulative hours of mobile phone use, overall: < 160 h
Group 18	cumulative hours of mobile phone use, overall: ≥ 160 h
Group 19	cumulative numbers of calls, mobile phone use ipsilateral: < 4000
Group 20	cumulative numbers of calls, mobile phone use ipsilateral: ≥ 4000
Group 21	cumulative numbers of calls, mobile phone use contralateral: < 4000
Group 22	cumulative numbers of calls, mobile phone use contralateral: ≥ 4000
Group 23	cumulative numbers of calls, mobile phone use overall: < 4000
Group 24	cumulative numbers of calls, mobile phone use overall: ≥ 4000
Group 25	mobile phone use, ipsilateral: never or < 1 year
Group 26	mobile phone use, ipsilateral: 1 - 3 year
Group 27	mobile phone use, ipsilateral: ≥ 4 year
Group 28	mobile phone use, contralateral: never or < 1 year
Group 29	mobile phone use, contralateral: 1 - 3 year
Group 30	mobile phone use, contralateral: ≥ 4 year
Group 31	mobile phone use, overall: never or < 1 year
Group 32	mobile phone use, overall: 1 - 3 year
Group 33	mobile phone use, overall: ≥ 4 year

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 16–80 years
Observation period: Nov 2003 - Nov 2004
Study location: Austria (Vienna)

Case group

Characteristics: acute and chronic tinnitus
Data source: Ear-Nose-Throat Department of the Medical University of Vienna, Austria
Exclusion criteria: diseases of the middle ear, post middle ear surgery status, retrocochlear disease, severe psychiatric and systemic diseases and medication with drugs that can influence tinnitus, hypertension, noise-induced hearing loss

Control group

outpatients without any concomitant condition related to tinnitus
Selection:
- hospital-based
Matching:
- sex
- age
- case:control = 1:1

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Participants	100	100

Statistical analysis method:

conditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

age
years of education, living in an urban area

)

Results (acc. to author)

Overall, no statistically significant increased risk for mobile phone use and tinnitus was observed in subgroups, except for the subgroup of ipsilateral use for 4 years and longer (OR 1.95; CI 1.00-3.80). The authors concluded that high intensity and long duration of mobile phone use might be associated with tinnitus.

Study funded by

Ear, Nose and Throat Department, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
Institute of Environmental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria

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