Epidemiological Study (cross-sectional study)

Clinical features of headache associated with mobile phone use: a cross-sectional study in university students. epidemiol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Korea to investigate the clinical features of headache in association with mobile phone use.
Background/further details:
This study consists of two parts: an initial questionnaire survey and subsequent telephone interviews of study participants who reported that they experienced headache associated with mobile phone use more than 10 times during the last 1 year. Headache associated with mobile phone use (HAMP) was defined as any headache during or within 1 hour after mobile phone use.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

• symptoms of discomfort: headache

Exposure

• mobile communication system, mobile phone, CDMA
• type of exposure: personal
• assessment by questionnaire (average daily duration of mobile phone use, frequency and overall duration of mobile phone use)
• assessment by interview (headache-triggering factors: prolonged mobile phone use, frequent use, and other triggering factors)

Population
Study group: men and women, aged from 21 to 25 years
Group characteristics: students of Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon
Observation period: 2005
Study location: Korea (Chuncheon)
Exclusion criteria: no mobile phone use

Further parameters acquired by questionnaire (age, sex, headache (frequency, duration, quality, location and severity of headache; nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia) )

Study size
number total	247
number participating	214
number of complete follow-up/ available for analysis	212

Statistical analysis using ANOVA

Results/conclusion (according to author)
Among the 212 study participants, the mean daily duration of mobile phone use was 33.4 ± 34.5 minutes, the mean daily frequency of mobile phone use was 7.4 ± 6.3 calls, and the mean duration of mobile use was 5.5 ± 4.0 years. 40 out of 212 participants indicated that they experienced headache associated with mobile phone use more than 10 times during the last 1 year.
The authors found that headache associated with mobile phone use usually showed stereotyped clinical features including mild intensity, a dull or pressing quality, localisation ipsilateral to the side of mobile phone use, provocation by prolonged mobile phone use and often accompanied by a burning sensation.

(Study character: epidemiological study, cross-sectional study)

Study funded by

• not stated/none

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