Abstract
Few studies have examined sun sensitivity risk factors for cutaneous melanoma specifically in populations of Spanish descent. Previous searches were conducted in PUBMED for articles on melanoma and sun exposure through 2008. Over 300 articles were reviewed and relevant data was abstracted. These abstract forms were subsequently reviewed for studies in populations of Spanish descent. PUBMED was then examined for more recent studies of melanoma in populations of Spanish descent. Eight appropriate articles were found, which comprised 7 discrete studies. We conducted a meta-analysis of these seven studies analyzing Fitzpatrick skin type, skin color and history of sunburns. The risk of melanoma was increased for fair vs. dark skin color (OR = 2.9, 95% CI 2.0-4.1) and for skin type I & II vs. II I& IV (OR = 3.5, 95% CI of 2.0-6.1). However, when skin type was examined as an ordered categorical factor in a linear dose-response analysis, a 12-fold difference was seen between skin type I and IV. Any history of sunburn in childhood and lifetime were also associated with melanoma with ORs of 5.6 and 4.0, respectively. The magnitudes of associations seen in this population were much higher than seen in previous meta-analyses of all studies of melanoma. These results provide some evidence of discrepancies of reporting skin color in heterogeneous populations including those of Spanish descent. Future studies should provide a more accurate measure of self-reported skin color in these populations.
Highlights
The incidence of cutaneous melanoma is increasing in the United States (US), with an average annual increase of 2.3% between 1999 and 2008 [1]
This study looked at the magnitude of association between sun sensitivity factors and cutaneous melanoma in populations of Spanish descent
A search was conducted in Medline, dissertation databases, and PUBMED for key words related to melanoma and “sun”, including sun, sunlight, tanbed, sunbed, artificial UV and sunburns, to obtain articles on any aspect of sun sensitivity, sun exposure or sunburns and risk of cutaneous melanoma
Summary
The incidence of cutaneous melanoma is increasing in the United States (US), with an average annual increase of 2.3% between 1999 and 2008 [1]. Most studies of melanoma are restricted to European populations as cutaneous melanoma incidence is highest in these groups and lowest in African populations [6]. Within European populations, differences in incidence rates are attributed to variation in pigment or skin color between northern European and Latin populations [2,7,8]. Incidence rates and epidemiological studies have shown that individuals with fair complexions are at highest risk. Cutaneous melanoma has been strongly associated with sun sensitivity factors [9,10] and intermittent sun exposure [9] including history of sunburns [11]. Less is known about how such factors vary across European populations, in populations of Spanish descent
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