Sun exposure and risk of lymphoid neoplasms in Singapore

Epidemiologic studies have reported an inverse association between sun exposure and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but these have been almost exclusively conducted in Western populations residing in temperate locations. We evaluated the association between personal outdoor sun exposure and risk of malignant lymphomas in Singapore.

A hospital-based case-control study of 541 incident cases of lymphoid neoplasms and 830 controls were recruited during 2004-2008. Participants were interviewed regarding recreational or occupational outdoor activities during childhood and in adulthood. Basic demographics and potential confounders were also collected. Odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression analysis.

Compared with individuals who did not have regular sun exposure, a lower risk of NHL was observed for those who reported regular exposure on non-school days during childhood [OR, 0.62; 95 % CI, 0.46-0.83] and non-working days in adulthood [OR, 0.70; 95 % CI, 0.51-0.97]. The protective effect was more evident among women.

Our findings support an inverse relationship between intermittent sun exposure and the risk of NHL. These findings are consistent with the growing evidence from various countries, but further studies, especially prospective studies, are needed in Asian populations.