Causal relationship between duration of mobile phone use and risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis

Authors: Gao W, Jiang X, Lin Q, Ye L, Huang X, Xiong Y, Guo X, Zheng H, Ke C, Hu W, Zheng F

Year: 2025 Nov 21

Category: Epidemiology

Journal: Medicine (Baltimore)

DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000046053

URL: https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2025/11210/causal_relationship_between_duration_of_mobile.40.aspx

Abstract

Overview

This study investigates whether the duration of mobile phone use (DMPU) is causally associated with the risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

  • Data were pooled from publicly available genome-wide association studies in European populations (n = 456,972).
  • Genome-wide association study data on patients with aSAH were obtained from the Common Metabolic Disease Knowledge Portal (total n = 337,159; cases = 7,480; controls = 329,679).
  • Twenty-three significant single nucleotide polymorphisms were selected as instrumental variables for DMPU.

Findings

  • The primary Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis suggested a causal relationship between excessive DMPU and increased risk of aSAH (odds ratio [OR] = 2.20; 95% confidence interval: 1.26-3.83; P = .006).
  • MR-Egger regression indicated directional pleiotropy was unlikely to bias results (OR = 12.93; 95% CI: 1.15-145.31; P = .051).
  • The weighted median method further supported the causal relationship (OR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.17-5.24; P = .018).
  • No heterogeneity or asymmetry was observed, confirming the robustness of the findings.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence supporting a causal relationship between excessive mobile phone use and an increased risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Excessive mobile phone use may increase the risk of this severe brain bleed, which has significant implications for clinical practice, public health, and policy.

Plain Language Summary

Researchers analyzed genetic data from large European studies and found that using mobile phones for long periods may indeed increase the risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The findings, derived from Mendelian randomization methods, suggest that heavy mobile phone use could be a risk factor for aSAH, underscoring important healthcare and public health implications.

Key Points

  • This study uses robust MR methods to examine a potential causal association between mobile phone use and the risk of aSAH, adding a new understanding of the health risks posed by electromagnetic field exposure from mobile devices.
  • Evidence supports the need for clinical and public health policies addressing this risk and provides rationale for further studies into the mechanisms of causality.
mobile phone use electromagnetic fields aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage Mendelian randomization genetic epidemiology risk factors public health
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