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Implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cellular telephones: is there any interference?

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Occhetta E, Plebani L, Bortnik M, Sacchetti G, Trevi G · 1999

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Cell phones can interfere with ICD programming equipment but don't affect the life-saving arrhythmia detection function during normal use.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers tested whether cell phones interfere with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), life-saving devices that shock the heart back into normal rhythm during dangerous arrhythmias. They found that while phones caused significant interference with the telemetry system used to program the devices when placed directly on the ICD, they didn't cause false arrhythmia detections or prevent proper functioning when held normally by patients. The study concluded that ICD patients can safely use cell phones but should avoid them during device programming sessions.

Why This Matters

This 1999 study represents critical early research into EMF interference with medical devices, conducted when cell phone use was rapidly expanding. What makes this research particularly valuable is that it examined real-world interference scenarios with actual patients, not just laboratory simulations. The finding that 2-watt phones (significantly more powerful than today's devices) caused telemetry interference when placed directly on ICDs demonstrates the reality of EMF interference with sensitive electronics. However, the lack of false arrhythmia detection during normal use patterns provides important reassurance for the millions of people with cardiac devices. This research helped establish safety protocols that remain relevant today, as our exposure to radiofrequency radiation has only intensified with smartphones, tablets, and wireless infrastructure.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

The aim of our study was to consider cellular telephone interference using different cellular telephones and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) models.

Thirty (26 men, 4 women) patients with ICDs were considered during follow-up. The ICD models were: ...

All evaluated models showed significant noise in the telemetric transmission when the cellular telep...

In conclusion, present ICD models seem to be well protected from electromagnetic interference caused by European cellular telephones (TACS and GSM), without under-/oversensing of ventricular arrhythmias. However, cellular telephones disturb telemetry when located near the programming head. ICD patients should not be advised against the use of cellular telephones, but it has to be avoided during ICD interrogation and programming.

Cite This Study
Occhetta E, Plebani L, Bortnik M, Sacchetti G, Trevi G (1999). Implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cellular telephones: is there any interference? Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 22(7):983-989, 1999.
Show BibTeX
@article{e_1999_implantable_cardioverter_defibrillators_and_2476,
  author = {Occhetta E and Plebani L and Bortnik M and Sacchetti G and Trevi G},
  title = {Implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cellular telephones: is there any interference?},
  year = {1999},
  doi = {10.1111/j.1540-8159.1999.tb00561.x},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-8159.1999.tb00561.x},
}
DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1999.tb00561.x

Cited By (61 papers)

View all 61 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

No, ICDs do not detect false arrhythmias from cell phone interference. A 1999 study found that both TACS and GSM phones caused no false arrhythmia detections when patients held phones normally or when phones were placed directly on the ICD devices during testing.
Yes, cell phones significantly interfere with ICD programming sessions. The 1999 study showed that both TACS and GSM phones caused substantial noise in telemetric transmission when placed near the ICD and programming head, often leading to complete loss of telemetry during calls.
Yes, it's safe for ICD patients to use GSM phones during normal use. Research from 1999 demonstrated that GSM and TACS phones don't cause false arrhythmia detections or prevent proper ICD functioning when held in patients' hands at normal distances from the device.
No, cell phones cannot prevent ICDs from detecting ventricular fibrillation. The 1999 study found that during induced ventricular fibrillation with cellular phones in reception mode near the device, arrhythmia recognition was always correct and not delayed by electromagnetic interference.
No, ICD patients don't need to avoid TACS cellular phones completely. The 1999 research concluded that ICD patients should not be advised against using cellular phones, but should avoid them only during ICD interrogation and programming sessions with medical staff.