Influence of having a home garden on personal UVR exposure behavior and risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma in Denmark. Issue 6 (6th August 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Idorn, Luise Winkel; Thieden, Elisabeth; Philipsen, Peter Alshede; Wulf, Hans Christian
• Is Part Of: International journal of cancer. Volume 132:Issue 6(2013:Mar. 15)
• Page Start: 1383
• Page End: 1388
• Publication Date: 2012-08-06
• Subjects: Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.27734
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7136

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>There is a need for more knowledge concerning the association of higher socioeconomic status (SES) with cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). Having a home garden is associated with a higher SES. We aimed to study the influence of having a home garden on UVR exposure behavior and risk of CMM. Register study: We collected information from Danish national registers about gender, age, type of home and CMM among persons aged 16–75 in 2002–2006. A total of 5, 118 CMM cases were identified. Risk of CMM of the trunk was increased by 46% (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI): 31–63) and risk of CMM of the extremities by 34% (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001, 95% CI: 20–49) among people with home gardens. Dosimeter study: During a summer season 194 participants living in the Capital area, Denmark, equally distributed in homes with and without a garden, wore personal electronic UVR dosimeters measuring time‐stamped UVR doses continuously and filled in sun exposure diaries. While no difference was found in estimated yearly UVR dose between groups, participants with a home garden had more days exposing shoulders or upper body, and upper extremities outdoors than those without a garden (<italic>p</italic> = 0.026, age adjusted). People with a home garden are at increased risk of CMM of the trunk and extremities—body sites that seems to be exposed to a higher extent among people with home gardens. People with a higher SES are more likely to have a home garden. This may partly explain the well‐known association of higher SES with CMM incidence.</p> </abstract>