Table 4

Results of sensitivity analyses on ORs for glioma and meningioma with radio frequency exposure in the highest quintile of total cumulative specific energy (TCSE)

Factors included in sensitivity analysesGliomaMeningioma
CasesControlsOR (95% CI)CasesControlsOR (95% CI)
All subjects with tumour localisation
 TCSE at centre of tumour
  Estimated by neuroradiologists when available, predicted by computer algorithm otherwise—main analysis1032071.35 (0.96 to 1.90)882510.90 (0.66 to 1.24)
  Predicted by computer algorithm for all subjects992061.32 (0.93 to 1.86)932530.93 (0.68 to 1.27)
  Estimated by neuroradiologists when available, predicted by computer algorithm otherwise not taking account of tumour laterality1052411.23 (0.89 to 1.72)942880.84 (0.62 to 1.15)
 TCSE averaged over the entire tumour
  Taking into account reported tumour laterality1072241.28 (0.92 to 1.80)932530.92 (0.69 to 1.24)
  Not taking into account tumour laterality1112541.21 (0.87 to 1.68)942910.84 (0.61 to 1.15)
 Effect of exclusion of
  Subjects with very high reported use (>5 h/day)931881.34 (0.94 to 1.91)812350.91 (0.66 to 1.26)
  Subjects with proxy response942071.43 (0.99 to 2.05)872490.93 (0.68 to 1.27)
  Subjects reporting use of 450 MHz telephones1012021.35 (0.96 to 1.91)882460.92 (0.67 to 1.26)
  Never regular users (using the lowest quintile of TCSE as reference category)1031951.93 (1.26 to 2.96)882371.04 (0.71 to 1.53)
 By frequency band
  800–900 MHz1001971.36 (0.96 to 1.93)882401.35 (0.74 to 2.44)
  1800–1900 MHz22571.45* (0.80 to 2.63)6590.28 (0.10 to 0.79)
 By communication system
  Analogue43821.22 (0.77 to 1.92)271091.29 (0.71 to 2.34)
  Digital791941.22 (0.84 to 1.76)872140.87 (0.45 to 1.67)
Only subjects with centre estimated by neuroradiologists
 Using centre estimated by neuroradiologist57861.66 (1.03 to 2.67)351141.01 (0.63 to 1.62)
 Using centre predicted by computer algorithm for all subjects53851.58 (0.98 to 2.57)391181.02 (0.64 to 1.61)
Only subjects for whom images were available (ie, excluding Israel)701091.82 (1.20 to 2.76)331131.23 (0.76 to 2.00)
Country-specific estimates
 Australia30491.15 (0.56 to 2.38)19670.75 (0.38 to 1.48)
 Canada21273.48 (1.63 to 7.43)7331.51 (0.58 to 3.93)
 France11291.39 (0.56 to 3.49)7290.77 (0.30 to 1.98)
 Israel33980.74 (0.40 to 1.37)501160.74 (0.47 to 1.17)
 New Zealand843.69 (0.78 to 17.5)565.52 (0.98 to 31.2)
Sex-specific estimates
 Men851331.33 (0.87 to 2.03)411510.98 (0.58 to 1.65)
 Women18741.30 (0.69 to 2.47)471000.88 (0.58 to 1.34)
  • * OR in fourth quintile: 1.86, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.22 (29 cases and 54 controls).