Exploring relationship between some environmental factors and skin cancer rate

Abstract

Introduction: Skin cancer rate has been associated to UV exposure. According international literature, No report on specific environmental influence on skin cancer in Cuba has been presented. Goal: To search some possible moderator factors, epidemiologically significant, of skin cancer in Cuba. Methods: Information gathered for Cuba was assessed using GIS and least square modelling. Raw Skin cancer rate at municipal scale, possible function of Insolation data obtained from national Network records, demographic, biologic and urbanizing variables was intended to be modelled for the Cuban territory. So, possible linkage between raw skin cancer rate and geophysical, demographic and urbanistic variables were tested. Results: Raw Skin cancer rate did not show a synchronous spatial connection to average skin insolation during time lapse studied, but it was pointed out that proportions of white individuals, elderly and urbanization degree presented moderate strength relationship in Cuba at a municipal level basis, 2000 – 2011. Conclusions: It is possible that some individual and environmental factors may influence disease features in Cuban population, according empirical epidemiological relationships modelled.