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Cardiovascular

The absence of interference between GSM mobile telephones and implantable defibrillators: an in-vivo study. Groupe Systemes Mobiles

No Effects Found

Sanmartin M, Fernandez Lozano I, Marquez J, Antorrena I, Bautista A, Silva L, Ortigosa J, de Artaza M · 1997

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This study found no interference between 1990s GSM phones and cardiac defibrillators, though modern devices warrant continued caution.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Spanish researchers tested whether GSM cell phones interfere with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) - devices that shock the heart back to normal rhythm during dangerous arrhythmias. They placed phones directly against the chest of 30 patients with various ICD models during calls, ringing, and conversation, monitoring for any device malfunction. No electromagnetic interference was detected, suggesting GSM phones don't disrupt these life-saving cardiac devices.

Why This Matters

This study addresses a critical safety question for the millions of people worldwide who depend on implantable cardiac devices. While the researchers found no interference between GSM phones and ICDs, this 1997 study used older phone models and GSM technology that operated at different power levels than today's smartphones. The science demonstrates that electromagnetic interference with medical devices remains a legitimate concern - the FDA continues to issue guidance about keeping phones at least 6 inches away from pacemakers and ICDs. What this means for you: while this specific study found no problems, the precautionary principle suggests maintaining some distance between your phone and any implanted cardiac device, especially given that modern phones often transmit at higher power levels and use different frequencies than those tested here.

Study Details

The electromagnetic field created by mobile telephones can cause pacemaker dysfunction. Although implantable cardioverter defibrillators are also susceptible to electromagnetic interference, few studies have addressed this issue and compatibility with the GSM mode has not been tested. This study was developed to detect possible "in vivo" interference between GSM mobile telephones and implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

The study group is composed of 30 patients with 8 different models of defibrillators. Twenty six had...

No cases of electromagnetic interference were observed. One patient presented non-sustained ventricu...

these results suggest that electromagnetic interference by GSM mobile phones are not a probable cause of implantable defibrillators dysfunction.

Cite This Study
Sanmartin M, Fernandez Lozano I, Marquez J, Antorrena I, Bautista A, Silva L, Ortigosa J, de Artaza M (1997). The absence of interference between GSM mobile telephones and implantable defibrillators: an in-vivo study. Groupe Systemes Mobiles Rev Esp Cardiol 50(10):715-719, 1997.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_1997_the_absence_of_interference_3361,
  author = {Sanmartin M and Fernandez Lozano I and Marquez J and Antorrena I and Bautista A and Silva L and Ortigosa J and de Artaza M},
  title = {The absence of interference between GSM mobile  telephones and implantable defibrillators: an in-vivo study. Groupe  Systemes Mobiles},
  year = {1997},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9417561/},
}
PubMed: 9417561

Cited By (2 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Spanish researchers found no electromagnetic interference when GSM phones were placed directly against the chest of 30 ICD patients during calls. The 1997 study tested various defibrillator models and concluded GSM phones don't disrupt these life-saving cardiac devices that shock hearts back to normal rhythm.
Yes, research shows GSM phones are safe to use with implantable cardioverter defibrillators. A clinical study placed phones directly on patients' chests during calls and found zero cases of device malfunction, suggesting normal phone use poses no risk to ICD function.
Researchers placed GSM phones directly against 30 ICD patients' chests during ringing, calls, and conversations while monitoring for device interference. No electromagnetic interference occurred, though one patient had unrelated heart rhythm episodes that the defibrillator properly detected and managed.
No documented cases exist from clinical testing. The 1997 Spanish study specifically tested GSM mobile phone interference with various ICD models in real patients and found zero instances of electromagnetic interference, contradicting theoretical concerns about phone-device interactions.
GSM phones can be placed directly against the chest safely, according to clinical research. Spanish cardiologists tested phones in direct contact with ICD patients' chests during active calls and found no interference, suggesting even the closest possible proximity poses no risk.