Maternal Cell Phone Use During Pregnancy, Pregnancy Duration And Fetal Growth In Four Birth Cohorts

Abstract

Maternal Cell Phone Use During Pregnancy, Pregnancy Duration And Fetal Growth In Four Birth Cohorts Tsarna E, Reedijk M, Birks LE, Guxens M, Ballester F, Ha M, Jiménez-Zabala A, Kheifets L, Lertxundi A, Lim HR, Olsen J, Safont LG, Sudan M, Cardis E, Vrijheid M, Vrijkotte T, Huss A, Vermeulen R. Maternal Cell Phone Use During Pregnancy, Pregnancy Duration And Fetal Growth In Four Birth Cohorts. Am J Epidemiol. 2019 Apr 17. pii: kwz092. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwz092. Abstract Previous studies evaluating potential effects of prenatal exposure to radiofrequency fields from cell phones on birth outcomes are inconsistent. We explored if maternal cell phone use was associated with pregnancy duration and fetal growth. We used information from 55,507 pregnant women and their children from Denmark (1996-2002), the Netherlands (2003-2004), Spain (2003-2008) and Korea (2006-2011). Based on self-reported number of cell phone calls per day, exposure was grouped as none, low (reference level), intermediate, and high. We examined pregnancy duration (gestational age at birth, preterm/postterm birth), fetal growth (birth weight ratio, small/large for gestational age), and birth weight, low and high birth weight, and meta-analyzed cohort specific estimates. The intermediate exposure group had higher risk of giving birth at lower gestational age (Hazard Ratio=1.04, 95%CI 1.01, 1.07), and exposure-response relationships were found for shorter pregnancy duration (P<0.001) and preterm birth (P=0.003). We observed no association with fetal growth or birth weight. In conclusion, maternal cell phone use during pregnancy may be associated with shorter pregnancy duration and increased risk for preterm birth. Results should be interpreted with caution, as they may reflect stress during pregnancy or other residual confounding, rather than direct effect of cell phone exposure. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Intermediate maternal cell phone call frequency was associated with higher risk of giving birth at lower gestational age (HR=1.04, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.07). Exposure-response relationships were reported for shorter pregnancy duration (P<0.001) and preterm birth (P=0.003), while no associations were observed with fetal growth or birth weight.

Outcomes measured

• Pregnancy duration (gestational age at birth)
• Preterm birth
• Postterm birth
• Fetal growth (birth weight ratio)
• Small for gestational age
• Large for gestational age
• Birth weight
• Low birth weight
• High birth weight

Limitations

• Exposure based on self-reported number of cell phone calls per day
• Potential residual confounding; authors note associations may reflect stress during pregnancy or other confounding rather than a direct effect of exposure
• Previous literature described as inconsistent (context for uncertainty)

Suggested hubs

• mobile-phones (0.9)
  Exposure is maternal mobile phone use (calls/day) during pregnancy.
• pregnancy-and-birth-outcomes (0.9)
  Outcomes include gestational age, preterm birth, and fetal growth measures.

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    "study_type": "cohort",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Pregnancy (self-reported calls/day; grouped as none, low [reference], intermediate, high)"
    },
    "population": "Pregnant women and their children from four birth cohorts in Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, and Korea",
    "sample_size": 55507,
    "outcomes": [
        "Pregnancy duration (gestational age at birth)",
        "Preterm birth",
        "Postterm birth",
        "Fetal growth (birth weight ratio)",
        "Small for gestational age",
        "Large for gestational age",
        "Birth weight",
        "Low birth weight",
        "High birth weight"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Intermediate maternal cell phone call frequency was associated with higher risk of giving birth at lower gestational age (HR=1.04, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.07). Exposure-response relationships were reported for shorter pregnancy duration (P<0.001) and preterm birth (P=0.003), while no associations were observed with fetal growth or birth weight.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure based on self-reported number of cell phone calls per day",
        "Potential residual confounding; authors note associations may reflect stress during pregnancy or other confounding rather than a direct effect of exposure",
        "Previous literature described as inconsistent (context for uncertainty)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "maternal cell phone use",
        "pregnancy",
        "prenatal exposure",
        "radiofrequency fields",
        "gestational age",
        "pregnancy duration",
        "preterm birth",
        "fetal growth",
        "birth weight",
        "birth cohorts",
        "meta-analysis"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
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            "reason": "Outcomes include gestational age, preterm birth, and fetal growth measures."
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}

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