Review date
9 August 2023
Article publication date
April 2023
Summary
This cross-sectional study assessed the relationship between self-reported skin cancer prevalence and the UV index in the United States (US). The study was based on the data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Self-reported data on lifetime skin cancer risk among 310,750 non-Hispanic white adults were collected from 47 continental states and the District of Columbia; while UV index data were gathered from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration UV index database. The study examined the significance of living in a low (5 or less), medium (6–7), or high (8 or higher) UV index state. Among reported 29,925 skin cancer cases, the prevalence of skin cancer was significantly higher in high UV index (> / = 8) states than in medium UV (6–7) and lower UV (< / = 5) (p < 0.0001). Compared to the respondents from low UV index states, those from a medium or high UV index states had higher odds of reporting a skin cancer diagnosis; Odds radio (OR) = 1.21 [confidence interval (CI): 1.15–2.27], OR =1.55 [CI: 1.47–1.63], respectively. The study concluded that UV exposure index (i.e., geographical residence) is related to prevalence of skin cancers in the United States.
Link to
Published in
Archives of Dermatological Research
ARPANSA commentary
This study indicated an association between UV exposure index and prevalence of skin cancers.
This finding is consistent with a latest study from the US (Borad et al., 2023) that found an association between paediatric melanoma cases and UV index among white children. Similarly, a review (Xiang et al., 2014), that examined studies between 1978 and 2012, indicated higher ambient daily UV exposure to be associated with higher skin cancer incidence rates in white populations. Limitations of this study include self-reported skin cancer diagnosis by the respondents. Though comparable data from Australia are limited, a high proportion of skin cancers in Australia are attributable to high ambient levels of UV radiation exposure (Olsen et al., 2010). For example, 7,220 melanomas and essentially all keratinocyte cancers reported (in the year 2010) in Australia were attributable to high ambient UV exposure levels in Australia.
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) measures the UV index in various locations in Australia and makes this real-time data publicly available daily. In view of preventing skin cancer occurrences, Australia implements the world leading SunSmart program, which recommends people to adopt a combination of five sun protection measures, namely; Slip (on clothing), Slop (on SPF50 or higher), Slap (on a hat), Seek (a shade), Slide (on sunglasses), whenever the UV index is 3 or above. ARPANSA also provides evidence-based public health messages in relation to UV protection measures, including sun protection factsheets. A Free SunSmart Global UV app provides real time sun protection advice for Australian and major international cities to inform people about sun protection measures, whenever required.
