Skin cancer in people with multiple sclerosis: a record linkage study.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) varies with latitude: it increases with distance from the equator in both hemispheres. To seek evidence on whether solar radiation is a protective factor for MS, this study investigated whether skin cancer, as an indicator of solar radiation, is less common in people with MS than in others.


METHODS
Analysis of a database of linked hospital records and death certificates.


METHODS
The Oxford Region of the National Health Service, England.


METHODS
A cohort comprising all people in the database with MS, and comparison cohorts of people with other diseases.


RESULTS
Skin cancer was significantly less common in people with MS than in the main comparison cohort (rate ratio 0.49; 95% confidence interval 0.24 to 0.91). There was no general deficit of cancer in the MS cohort, and no deficit of skin cancer in cohorts of people with other autoimmune or neurological diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings support the hypothesis that solar radiation may have a protective influence on the development of MS.
Goldacre
M J
MJ
Unit of Health-Care Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK. michael.goldacre@dphpc.ac.uk
Seagroatt
V
V
Yeates
D
D
Acheson
E D
ED
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003644:Death Certificates; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008498:Medical Record Linkage / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects