The epidemiology of sunburn in the US population in 2003.
BACKGROUND
Sunburn is a major preventable risk factor for skin cancer.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated risk factors for sunburn in the United States based on the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.


METHODS
A random sample of 207,776 respondents provided data for the population-based survey. The main outcome measure was any report of sunburn within the previous 12 months.


RESULTS
Overall, 39% of respondents had at least one sunburn. The strongest factors associated with sunburn were age and socioeconomic factors. Sunburn prevalence was greatest in respondents 18 to 24 years old (61%). This group was more likely to have a sunburn than respondents 45 to 54 years of age (odds ratio [OR] = 2.76). Higher income and higher levels of education were positively associated with sunburn (OR 1.67 and 1.63, respectively). Individuals reporting recent binge drinking had a higher prevalence of sunburn (OR = 1.33).


CONCLUSIONS
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System does not include data on skin type or sun protection behavior; therefore the impact of these factors was not assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
Sunburn occurs at a very high rate in the United States.
Brown
Tamu T
TT
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Quain
Rhonda D
RD
Troxel
Andrea B
AB
Gelfand
Joel M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013471:Sunburn / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology