The Effects of Exposure to Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields in the Treatment of Migraine Headache: A Cohort Study.
BACKGROUND
Findings have indicated that increased usage of mobile phones may be concomitant with higher rate of headache attacks due to the low radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). The aim of this study was to determine the effects of low RF-EMF on the treatment outcome in migraine patients.


METHODS
This cohort study was performed on 114 migraine patients referred to the Neurology Clinic of Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz, Southwest Iran, from September 2014 to March 2015. Patients with migraine were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire exploring mobile phones, Wi-Fi devices and fixed-line telephone use as RF-EMF sources. After 3 months, we determined patients' response to treatment. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) tests were carried out to analyze data, using SPSS version 17.


RESULTS
Out of 114 individuals who participated, 82 (71.9%) were female and 32 (28.1%) cases were male. The number and severity of migraine headaches were correlated significantly with an increased use of mobile phones during day and Wi-Fi per week (p<0.05). The usage of fixed-line telephones had no significant relationship with the study variables (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
It is recommended that the patients with migraine headache limit mobile phone use and instead, use the fixed-line telephone for their daily telecommunications.
M.D., Neurologist, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Seyed Ehsan
SE
Mohammadianinejad
Neurology Resident, Department of Neurology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Manuchehr
M
Babaei
Medical Student, Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Pedram
P
Nazari
Electromagnetic field; Headache; Migraine Wi-Fi; Mobile phone; Radio frequency