Cutaneous melanomas attributable to ultraviolet radiation exposure by state

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Cutaneous melanoma is a significant public health concern.
• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a primary risk factor for melanoma development.
• Understanding the geographic distribution of UV-attributable melanoma is crucial for targeted prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the burden of cutaneous melanoma attributable to UV radiation by US state.
• To inform state and local public health policies for melanoma mitigation.
• To identify geographic disparities in UV-attributable melanoma incidence.

Main Methods:

• Calculated UV-attributable melanoma cases by subtracting expected cases (based on historical low rates in Connecticut) from observed cases (2011-2015).
• Estimated numbers, proportions, and age-standardized incidence rates for each US state.
• Analyzed data stratified by race/ethnicity, focusing on non-Hispanic whites.

Main Results:

• UV radiation accounted for 338,701 (91.0%) of 372,335 total melanoma cases in the US (2011-2015).
• Non-Hispanic whites comprised 94.3% of UV-attributable cases.
• Attributable proportions among non-Hispanic whites varied by state (87.6% in DC to 97.3% in Hawaii), with rates exceeding 23.3 per 100,000 in half the states.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of melanoma cases are attributable to UV radiation across all US states.
• Significant variations in UV-attributable melanoma burden exist among states, particularly for non-Hispanic whites.
• Broad implementation and enforcement of UV radiation preventive measures are essential, prioritizing states with higher burdens.