title: The Effect of Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation in Infancy on Melanoma Risk.
abstract: Evidence on the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure in infancy on melanoma risk in later life is scarce. Three recent studies suffering from methodological shortcomings suggested that people born in spring carry a higher melanoma risk. Data from the Bavarian population-based cancer registry on 28374 incident melanoma cases between 2002 and 2012 were analyzed to reexamine this finding. Crude and adjusted analyses - using negative binomial regression models - were performed addressing the relationship. In the crude analysis, the birth months March - May were significantly overrepresented among melanoma cases. However, after additionally adjusting for the birth month distribution of the Bavarian population, the ostensible seasonal effect disappeared. Similar results emerged in all subgroup analyses. Our large registry-based study provides no evidence that people born in spring carry a higher risk for developing melanoma in later life and thus lends no support to the hypothesis of higher UVR-susceptibility during the first months of life.
authors: Dept. Med. Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen.
authors: Olaf
authors: O
authors: Gefeller
authors: Dept. Med. Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen.
authors: Cornelia
authors: C
authors: Fiessler
authors: Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Centre for Early Cancer Detection and Cancer Registration, Nuremberg.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Radespiel-Tröger
authors: Dept. Med. Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen.
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Uter
authors: Dept. Med. Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen.
authors: Annette B
authors: AB
authors: Pfahlberg
mesh_terms: D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*