A follow-up study of the association between mobile phone use and symptoms of ill health

Authors: Cho YM, Lim HJ, Jang H, Kim K, Choi JW, Shin C, Lee SK, Kwon JH, Kim N

Year: 2016 Dec 29

Category: Epidemiology

Journal: Environ Health Toxicol

Institution: Korean Genome Epidemiology Study

DOI: 10.5620/eht.e2017001

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28111420

Abstract

Overview

This study evaluates the correlation between mobile phone usage and its effects on health over a two-year period. Initial data was gathered from a cross-sectional study, and this follow-up aims to assess changes among the same participants.

Methods

Participants: 532 non-patient adults from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study.
Assessment: Medical examinations were performed in 2012/2013 and repeated in 2014/2015 to record mobile phone usage characteristics.
Health Indices Analyzed: Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form (PWI-SF), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Korean-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (K-IADL), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12).

Findings

Average call duration and HIT-6 scores significantly decreased over the study period.
Female subjects showed a significant correlation between changes in call duration and HIT-6 scores; no significant correlation was found in males.
No significant reduction in HIT-6 scores was observed among long-time call users (≥5 min per call).

Conclusion

The study highlights that increased mobile phone call duration poses a significant risk factor for chronic headaches, indicating a direct correlation between extensive phone use and adverse health impacts.

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