TY - JOUR
T1 - A case-control study of malignant melanoma in Israeli kibbutzim
AU - Tabenkin, Hava
AU - Tamir, Ada
AU - Sperber, Ami D.
AU - Shapira, Micha
AU - Shvartzman, Pesach
PY - 1999/11
Y1 - 1999/11
N2 - Background: Incidence rates for malignant melanoma in Israel are rising steadily, and the kibbutz population is at increased risk for this malignancy. Objectives: To assess the risk factors for malignant melanoma among kibbutz members compared to matched healthy controls. Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 168 malignant melanoma patients and 325 healthy controls, matched by age and gender. Data were collected on three categories of risk: demographic, personal (e.g., skin, eye and hair color), and environmental/behavioral (e.g., sun exposure, use of sunscreens). Results: There were no differences between the groups regarding sociodemographic data. Significantly more patients than controls had fair, vulnerable skin (P<0.001), light eyes (P<0.05), and fair hair (P<0.001). There was no difference in family history of malignant melanoma or other cancers. Patients with malignant melanoma had significantly more additional skin lesions (e.g., keratoses) (P<0.001). More patients than controls recalled having been exposed to the sun for long periods when they were 6-13 years of age. A conditional logistic regression analysis showed that fair hair, fair vulnerable skin, and additional skin lesions were independently associated with malignant melanoma (P<0.01). Conclusions: The main target population for interventions to reduce the incidence of malignant melanoma among kibbutz members should be individuals with these risk factors. A history of increased exposure to the sun from age 6 to 13 should also be taken into account as an independent risk factor.
AB - Background: Incidence rates for malignant melanoma in Israel are rising steadily, and the kibbutz population is at increased risk for this malignancy. Objectives: To assess the risk factors for malignant melanoma among kibbutz members compared to matched healthy controls. Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 168 malignant melanoma patients and 325 healthy controls, matched by age and gender. Data were collected on three categories of risk: demographic, personal (e.g., skin, eye and hair color), and environmental/behavioral (e.g., sun exposure, use of sunscreens). Results: There were no differences between the groups regarding sociodemographic data. Significantly more patients than controls had fair, vulnerable skin (P<0.001), light eyes (P<0.05), and fair hair (P<0.001). There was no difference in family history of malignant melanoma or other cancers. Patients with malignant melanoma had significantly more additional skin lesions (e.g., keratoses) (P<0.001). More patients than controls recalled having been exposed to the sun for long periods when they were 6-13 years of age. A conditional logistic regression analysis showed that fair hair, fair vulnerable skin, and additional skin lesions were independently associated with malignant melanoma (P<0.01). Conclusions: The main target population for interventions to reduce the incidence of malignant melanoma among kibbutz members should be individuals with these risk factors. A history of increased exposure to the sun from age 6 to 13 should also be taken into account as an independent risk factor.
KW - Incidence
KW - Kibbutz
KW - Malignant melanoma
KW - Prevalence
KW - Risk factors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033222539&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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C2 - 10731323
AN - SCOPUS:0033222539
SN - 1565-1088
VL - 1
SP - 154
EP - 157
JO - Israel Medical Association Journal
JF - Israel Medical Association Journal
IS - 3
ER -