Surveillance for melanoma and other skin cancers at the regional level

Aim. To justify the proposals for improving the surveillance for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers at the regional level.

Materials and Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study investigating the prevalence of known risk factors for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. In total, 1269 residents of the Altai Krai ≥ 18 years were the study participants; the response rate was 84.6% (1269/1500). Logistic regression was used to test the relationship between the age of the respondents (independent variable) and their visits to the tanning salons (dependent variable). The population attributable risk was used to measure the epidemiological significance of the risk factors in a specific study population.

Results. The current system of epidemiological surveillance for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers needs to be supplemented with a routine data collection on the prevalence of known risk factors, among which visiting of the tanning salons has particular importance as a controllable factor which was present in 7.6% (97/1269) respondents. Identification rate regarding this risk factor was higher among the young people (OR 0.95; 95% CI 0.93 ÷ 0.97 per an additional year, p <0.0001). Up to 6.2% of melanoma cases and 2.95-7.19% of non-melanoma skin cancers among the population of Altai Krai could be prevented annually by the exclusion of non-medical visits to the tanning salons. The most ultraviolet-susceptible phototypes of the skin (Fitzpatrick I and II) were present in 11.5% (146/1266) and 29.8% (377/1266) of respondents, respectively.

Conclusion. Routine assessment of the risk factors of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers can contribute to the efficient surveillance and prevention. Total prevalence of skin phototypes most associated with the risk of developing melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers (Fitzpatrick I and II) was about 40%. The most significant controllable risk factor, i.e. visiting tanning salons, was noted only by 7.6% of respondents. The population attributable risk of developing melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers associated with visiting tanning salons was 6.2% and 2.95-7.19% for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers respectively.

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