Causal associations between mobile phone usage and glaucoma risk: A Mendelian randomization study

Authors: Song R, Wang Y, Kong Y, Fan X, Yuan C, Zha X

Year: 2024 Nov 29

Category: Epidemiology

Journal: Medicine (Baltimore)

DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000040666

URL: https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2024/11290/causal_associations_between_mobile_phone_usage_and.12.aspx

Abstract

Overview

Previous research has indicated a possible link between mobile phone usage and the incidence of glaucoma. This study employs a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to examine the causal relationship between mobile phone use and glaucoma risk. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from publicly accessible genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets were used as instrumental variables (IVs).

Methods

  • The primary analytical method was the inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach.
  • MR-Egger and weighted median analyses served as complementary methods.
  • Sensitivity was evaluated using Cochran's Q test and MR-Egger regression.

Findings

  • There is a causal effect of mobile phone usage on increased risk of glaucoma:
    • OR IVW = 1.358, 95% CI: 1.052-1.752, P = .019
    • OR MR-Egger = 1.882, 95% CI: 0.53-6.682, P = .337
    • OR Weighted median = 1.387, 95% CI: 1.012-1.900, P = .042
    • OR MR-PRESSO = 1.358, 95% CI: 1.052-1.752, P = .026
  • Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness and reliability of these findings.

Conclusion

This study identifies mobile phone usage as a potentially modifiable risk factor for glaucoma. The findings provide new avenues for exploring the specific mechanisms underlying these ocular disorders and emphasize the importance of further research in this area.

mobile phone usage glaucoma Mendelian randomization genome-wide association study electromagnetic fields genetic epidemiology ocular disorders
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