A new study has uncovered a connection between regular mobile phone use and a heightened risk of cardiovascular diseases. The research, published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, underscores the increased vulnerability of smokers and individuals with diabetes, also highlighting the roles poor sleep and psychological distress play in this association.
A significant new study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology has found a troubling link between regular mobile phone use and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, especially among smokers and those with diabetes. This association is partly attributed to factors like poor sleep, psychological distress and neuroticism.
“Mobile phone use is a ubiquitous exposure in modern society, so exploring its impact on health has significant public health value,” co-investigator Yanjun Zhang from the Division of Nephrology at Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, China, said in a news release.
Zhang highlighted the impact of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from mobile phones on the body’s regulatory systems, noting the uncertainty that still surrounds their association with cardiovascular risks.
The research team analyzed data from 444,027 individuals in the UK Biobank, all without prior cardiovascular conditions, who reported their mobile phone usage between 2006 and 2010. Regular mobile phone use was defined as making at least one call per week.
The median follow-up period was 12.3 years, during which the researchers tracked incidents of strokes, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation and heart failure through hospital and mortality records.
“We aimed to assess the prospective association of regular mobile phone use with incident cardiovascular diseases and explore the mediating effects of sleep and mental health. We found that compared with non-regular mobile phone users, regular mobile phone users had a significantly higher risk of incident cardiovascular diseases,” co-investigator Ziliang Ye, also from the Division of Nephrology at Nanfang Hospital, said in the news release.
The study’s findings point to various mechanisms that could explain this association.
“We found that sleep patterns, psychological distress and neuroticism may be potential mechanisms of the association between mobile phone use and cardiovascular diseases. A poor sleep pattern and poor mental health may adversely affect the development of cardiovascular diseases through disrupted circadian rhythm, endocrine and metabolic disruption, and increased inflammation,” added co-investigator Xianhui Qin, who is also from the Division of Nephrology at Nanfang Hospital.
Interestingly, the study period predates the widespread use of modern smartphones, which have transformed how people use their devices.
Nicholas Grubic, a doctoral student in epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public at the University of Toronto who co-authored an editorial accompanying the research, urged caution in interpreting these findings.
“While the current study suggests that using a mobile phone may moderately increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, more conclusive evidence with valid measurements of mobile phone use is needed before this association becomes a concern for the general public,” he said in the news release.
As the world becomes increasingly dependent on mobile technology, this study serves as a crucial reminder of the potential health risks associated with ubiquitous digital devices. Grubic concluded by advising individuals to consider more heart-healthy activities over prolonged phone usage.