The association between self-reported mobile phone usage with blood pressure and heart rate: evidence from a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Overview

With the ubiquitous use of mobile phones facilitated by technological advancements, concerns about the potential health impacts of electromagnetic wave exposure from these devices have increased, particularly regarding the cardiovascular system. This study explores the connection between mobile phone use and cardiovascular health markers such as blood pressure and heart rate.

Methods

• Conducted as a part of the Ravansar non-communicable diseases (RaNCD) cohort study in Iran.
• Analyzed data from 8,905 of 10,065 cohort participants.
• Participants categorized into four groups based on their mobile phone usage time over the last 12 months.
• Statistical analysis used: univariate and multiple linear regression to explore relationships between mobile phone usage duration and cardiovascular markers.

Findings

The study reports varying impacts of mobile phone use on blood pressure and heart rate among different gender groups:

• A collective negative correlation observed between duration of mobile phone use and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in women.
• No significant associations found between mobile phone usage duration and heart rate after adjusting for confounders, suggesting potential gender-specific effects or chance findings requiring further investigation.

Conclusion

The findings indicate a potential protective effect of longer duration mobile use on blood pressure among women. This inverse relationship underscores the need for further studies to determine causality and mechanisms, highlighting the importance of assessing prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields from mobile phones and their impact on cardiovascular health.