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Higher UV radiation linked to increased prevalence of nonmelanoma skin cancers
Higher mean daily UV radiation was associated with increased nonmelanoma skin cancer incidence rates, according to study findings.
Researchers systematically reviewed 40 peer-reviewed articles published from 1978 to 2012 that provided age- and sex-specific and incidence data for non-melanoma skin cancers in white populations worldwide.
The researchers found nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) incidence rates were significantly higher in men than in women and increased with age.
Higher mean daily UV radiation was linked to higher NMSC incidence rates, with a greater effect on squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) than basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Additionally, greater day-to-day variability in ambient UV radiation levels was associated with lower incidence of BCC and SCC, according to the researchers.
When accounting for latitude, increase in NMSC incidence for a 1-kJ/m2 increase in daily UV radiation was greater at lower latitudes. At higher latitudes, there was a slight but significant decrease in SCC incidence with calendar year, according to the researchers.
When analyzing for sex, higher mean daily UV radiation exposure was associated with a greater incidence of BCC in men than in women for BCC (70% vs. 60%), and a greater incidence of SCC in women than in men (99% vs. 92%).
Among patients older than 60 years, men were 1.6 times more likely to develop BCC than women, compared with 1.4 times for patients younger than 60 years.
Incidence rates in older age groups were significantly higher overall; however, the increase with age was steeper for those younger than 60 years, according to the researchers.
Disclosure: See the study for a full list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.