[Skin cancer risk factors in childhood: findings of a survey in an Italian area characterized by atypical migration].
OBJECTIVE
to evaluate the association of different phenotypes with sun sensitivity factors, sun protection behavior and ethnicity in school-age children.


METHODS
cross sectional study in the framework of a survey of children using a self-administered questionnaire.


METHODS
35412 children attending primary schools in the provinces of Latina and Rome, located in the Lazio region (Italy), in the 1998-2001 time period.


METHODS
Odds Ratios (ORs) and their relative 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) computed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.


RESULTS
"FOTO positive" phenotype, a proxy variable of the fair phenotype, was directly and significantly associated with the tendency to sunburn (OR 4.64; 95% CI 4.39-4.89), the presence of freckles on the face (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.55-1.77), of naevi on the left forearm (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.12-1.25), the number of grandparents born in northern areas (OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.15-2.07, for four northern grandparents versus none), the residence in Latina Province (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.07-1.20) and the use of sunscreens (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.55-1.88). An inverse association was observed with the male sex (OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.86-0.96), the increase of school-class level (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.61-0.72, for the highest versus the lowest school-class level) and the ability to tan (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.34-0.42).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings confirmed that fairness of phenotype is associated in children with other skin cancer risk factors as well as ethnicity and parents' sun protection behavior.
Ramazzotti
Valerio
V
Struttura complessa di epidemiologia, Istituto nazionale tumori "Regina Elena"--Istituti fisioterapici ospitalieri, Roma. ramazzotti@ifo.it
Terrenato
Irene
I
Catricalà
Caterina
C
Pannozzo
Fabio
F
Natali
Maurilio
M
Natali
Pier Giorgio
PG
Cercato
Maria Cecilia
MC
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010641:Phenotype; D011157:Population Dynamics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013471:Sunburn / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D013473:Sunscreening Agents