BACKGROUND Ultraviolet (UV) exposure may not affect melanoma development equally in different sexes and ages. Whether and how these factors interact with each other in relation to melanoma risk is unknown. OBJECTIVE This study attempts to estimate interactions among UV index (UVI), sex, and age in melanoma risk. METHODS Melanoma incidence data were collected from 42 cancer registries. Geographic UVI was collected from local satellite stations. Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate the impact of each risk factor and their interactions. RESULTS Sex, UVI, and age, as well as interactions between any 2 of these factors, were significantly associated with melanoma risk. In younger age groups, female sex is an independent risk factor for melanoma that is not affected by ambient UV exposure. In older age groups, however, female sex interacts with UV exposure as a risk factor, exhibiting a protective effect. The switching age category is 45 to 49, which correlates with dramatic hormonal changes. LIMITATIONS The interaction between sex and UVI is measured at an ecologic level. CONCLUSIONS The interaction between sex and UVI is age dependent. Female sex is an independent risk factor for early-onset melanoma, but female sex also protects against UV-associated melanoma in older age groups.

中文翻译：

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性别与地理紫外线指数之间的年龄依赖性相互作用在黑色素瘤风险中的作用。

背景技术紫外线（UV）暴露可能不会平等地影响不同性别和年龄的黑色素瘤的发展。关于黑素瘤风险，这些因素是否相互作用以及如何相互作用尚不清楚。目的本研究试图评估黑素瘤风险中紫外线指数（UVI），性别和年龄之间的相互作用。方法从42个癌症登记处收集黑色素瘤的发病率数据。地理UVI是从当地卫星站收集的。负二项式回归模型用于估计每个风险因素及其相互作用的影响。结果性别，UVI和年龄以及其中任何两个因素之间的相互作用均与黑色素瘤风险显着相关。在较年轻的年龄组中，女性是黑色素瘤的独立危险因素，不受周围紫外线照射的影响。但是，在年龄较大的人群中，女性与紫外线辐射相互作用是一种危险因素，表现出保护作用。转换年龄类别为45至49，这与荷尔蒙的剧烈变化相关。局限性从生态学角度衡量性别与UVI之间的相互作用。结论性别与UVI之间的相互作用取决于年龄。女性是早期发作的黑色素瘤的独立危险因素，但在老年人群中，女性也可预防与紫外线相关的黑色素瘤。