Sunscreen Use and Subsequent Melanoma Risk: A Population-Based Cohort Study.
Purpose To assess melanoma risk in relation to sunscreen use and to compare high- with low-sun protection factor (SPF) sunscreens in relation to sunbathing habits in a large cohort study. Materials and Methods We used data from the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study, a prospective population-based study of 143,844 women age 40 to 75 years at inclusion with 1,532,247 person-years of follow-up and 722 cases of melanoma. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the association between sunscreen use (never, SPF < 15, SPF ≥ 15) and melanoma risk by calculating hazard ratios and 95% CIs. The population attributable fraction associated with sunscreen use was estimated. Results Sunscreen users reported significantly more sunburns and sunbathing vacations and were more likely to use indoor tanning devices. SPF ≥ 15 sunscreen use was associated with significantly decreased melanoma risk compared with SPF < 15 use (hazard ratio, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.83). The estimated decrease in melanoma (population attributable fraction) with general use of SPF ≥ 15 sunscreens by women age 40 to 75 years was 18% (95% CI, 4% to 30%). Conclusion Use of SPF ≥ 15 rather than SPF < 15 sunscreens reduces melanoma risk. Moreover, use of SPF ≥ 15 sunscreen by all women age 40 to 75 years could potentially reduce their melanoma incidence by 18%.
Reza Ghiasvand and Marit B. Veierød, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo; Elisabete Weiderpass, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo; Elisabete Weiderpass and Eiliv Lund, University of Tromsø-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Elisabete Weiderpass, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Elisabete Weiderpass, Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland; Adele C. Green, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; and Adele C. Green, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Reza
R
Ghiasvand
Reza Ghiasvand and Marit B. Veierød, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo; Elisabete Weiderpass, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo; Elisabete Weiderpass and Eiliv Lund, University of Tromsø-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Elisabete Weiderpass, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Elisabete Weiderpass, Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland; Adele C. Green, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; and Adele C. Green, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Elisabete
E
Weiderpass
Reza Ghiasvand and Marit B. Veierød, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo; Elisabete Weiderpass, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo; Elisabete Weiderpass and Eiliv Lund, University of Tromsø-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Elisabete Weiderpass, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Elisabete Weiderpass, Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland; Adele C. Green, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; and Adele C. Green, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Adele C
AC
Green
Reza Ghiasvand and Marit B. Veierød, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo; Elisabete Weiderpass, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo; Elisabete Weiderpass and Eiliv Lund, University of Tromsø-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Elisabete Weiderpass, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Elisabete Weiderpass, Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland; Adele C. Green, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; and Adele C. Green, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Eiliv
E
Lund
Reza Ghiasvand and Marit B. Veierød, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo; Elisabete Weiderpass, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo; Elisabete Weiderpass and Eiliv Lund, University of Tromsø-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Elisabete Weiderpass, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Elisabete Weiderpass, Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland; Adele C. Green, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; and Adele C. Green, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Marit B
MB
Veierød
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013471:Sunburn / Q000453:epidemiology; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D013473:Sunscreening Agents