Sunburn prevalence among adults in the United States, 1999.
BACKGROUND
Exposure to high levels of sunlight, such as a sunburn, is a strong determinant of melanoma risk.


METHODS
To describe statewide and U.S. estimates of sunburn prevalence in the United States and determine demographic and behavioral predictors of sunburn, we analyzed data from the 1999 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a population-based telephone survey conducted in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.


RESULTS
Of 156,354 adults aged > or =18 years, 31.7% (95% confidence interval, 31.3%-32.1%) reported a sunburn in the past year; of adults aged 18 to 29 years, 57.5% reported such a sunburn. Reporting was highest among white, non-Hispanic males (44.1%), followed by white non-Hispanic females (35.3%), and lowest among black non-Hispanic males and females (5.1% and 5.3%, respectively). Statewide period prevalence of sunburn among whites was highest (>45%) in Wisconsin, Utah, Wyoming, Washington, DC, and Indiana, and lowest (<30%) in Puerto Rico, Arizona, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and New York.


CONCLUSIONS
Nationwide and statewide skin cancer prevention efforts should target young adults. Periodic monitoring of sunburn is important in evaluating the effectiveness of those efforts.
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. msoraiya@cdc.gov
Mona
M
Saraiya
H Irene
HI
Hall
Robert J
RJ
Uhler
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013471:Sunburn / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology