Clinical epidemiology of invasive cutaneous malignant melanoma in the Austrian province Styria in the years 2001-2003 and its relationship with local geographical, meteorological and economic data.
BACKGROUND
Melanoma incidence rates vary within Europe. The highest incidences are reported in Scandinavia, the lowest in the southern parts, but incidences themselves also vary within the different countries.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the incidence of invasive cutaneous melanoma in Styria, a province of Austria, in the years 2001-2003.


METHODS
Data from 1,082 patients, 511 males and 571 females (mean age 58.2 years) with primary melanoma were collected. For each patient, information regarding residence was available, and therefore the geographic distribution of melanoma on district level was investigated with particular reference to the mean number of sun hours, mean altitude, number of companies with more than 200 employees and median income.


RESULTS
The mean annual incidence (age-standardized rate) was 24.5 per 100,000 (95% CI: 22.4-26.6), lifetime risk 1 in 52. Districts with a higher number of sun hours and higher altitude showed lower melanoma incidences. Higher median income was associated with higher melanoma incidence (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The high incidence of invasive melanoma in Styria is unclear and a causal relationship between higher income and melanoma incidence remains speculative. Further investigations, especially concerning lifestyle and environmental factors, may unravel additional causative factors.
Richtig
Erika
E
Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Austria. erika.richtig@meduni-graz.at
Berghold
Andrea
A
Schwantzer
Gerold
G
Ott
Arthur
A
Wölfelmaier
Friedrich
F
Karner
Beatrix
B
Ludwig
Ralf
R
Denk
Helmut
H
Stering
Reinhold
R
Leitner
Gerhard
G
Lax
Sigurd
S
Okcu
Murat
M
Gerger
Armin
A
Kerl
Helmut
H
Smolle
Josef
J
D000531:Altitude; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors