A meta-analysis of sunburn and basal cell carcinoma risk

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in the United States. Sunburn is a modifiable risk factor for BCC. The objective of this project was to synthesize research on BCC and sunburn to quantify the impact and severity of sunburn at different life stages on BCC risk in the general population. A systematic literature search of four electronic databases was conducted and data were extracted by two independent reviewers using standardized forms. Data from 38 studies were pooled using both dichotomous and dose-response meta-analytic methods. BCC risk increased with ever experiencing a sunburn in childhood (OR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.72) and with ever experiencing a sunburn in life (OR= 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.45). Every five sunburns experienced per decade in childhood increased BCC risk by 1.86 (95% CI: 1.73, 2.00) times. Every five sunburns experienced per decade in adulthood increased BCC risk by 2.12 (95% CI: 1.75, 2.57) times and every five sunburns per decade of life increased BCC risk by 1.91 (95% CI: 1.42, 2.58) times. The data on sunburn exposure and BCC show that an increase in number of sunburns at any age increased the risk of BCC. This may inform future prevention efforts.