Association of UV index, latitude, and melanoma incidence in nonwhite populations--US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, 1992 to 2001.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the association between UV index, latitude, and melanoma incidence in different racial and ethnic populations in a high-quality national data set.


METHODS
Descriptive study.


METHODS
Eleven US cancer registries that constitute the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER-11).


METHODS
Patients with malignant melanoma of the skin reported between 1992 and 2001.


METHODS
Pearson correlation coefficients and regression coefficients were used to estimate the relationship of age-adjusted melanoma incidence rates (2000 US standard population) with the UV index or latitude within racial and ethnic groups.


RESULTS
A higher mean UV index was significantly associated with an increase in melanoma incidence only in non-Hispanic whites (r = 0.85, P = .001), although a nonsignificant association was noted in Native Americans (r = 0.42, P = .20). Negative, but not significant, correlations with incidence were observed in blacks (r = -0.53, P = .10), Hispanics (r = -0.43, P = .19), and Asians (r = -0.28, P = .41). Latitude also had a significant correlation with incidence only in non-Hispanic whites (r = -0.85, P = .001). A substantial portion of the variance in registry incidence in non-Hispanic whites could be explained by the UV index (R(2) = 0.71, P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Melanoma incidence is associated with increased UV index and lower latitude only in non-Hispanic whites. No evidence to support the association of UV exposure and melanoma incidence in black or Hispanic populations was found.
Eide
Melody J
MJ
Department of Community Health, Brown University, USA. Melody_Eide@brown.edu
Weinstock
Martin A
MA
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000531:Altitude; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011336:Probability; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018426:SEER Program; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data