Epidemiology

British Journal of Cancer (2009) 101, 537–540. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605149 www.bjcancer.com
Published online 23 June 2009

A population-based cohort study on sun habits and endometrial cancer

E Epstein1, P G Lindqvist2, B Geppert1 and H Olsson3

  1. 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University Hospital, 221 85 Lund, Sweden
  2. 2Clintec, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, 14186 Stockholm, Sweden
  3. 3Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University Hospital, 221 85 Lund, Sweden

Correspondence: Dr E Epstein, E-mail: elisabeth.epstein@med.lu.se

Received 12 May 2009; Revised 29 May 2009; Accepted 1 June 2009; Published online 23 June 2009.

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Abstract

Background:

  

No large cohort study has examined the risk of endometrial cancer in relation to sun exposure.

Methods:

  

A population-based cohort study of 29 508 women who answered a questionnaire in 1990–92, of whom 24 098 responded to a follow-up enquiry in 2000–02. They were followed for an average of 15.5 years.

Results:

  

Among the 17 822 postmenopausal women included, 166 cases of endometrial cancer were diagnosed. We used a multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusting for age and other selected demographic variables to determine the risk of endometrial cancer. Women using sun beds >3 times per year reduced their hazard risk (HR) by 40% (0.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4–0.9) or by 50% when adjusting for body mass index or physical activity (HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3–0.9), and those women who were sunbathing during summer reduced their risk by 20% (HR 0.8 95% CI 0.5–1.5) compared with women who did not expose themselves to the sun or to artificial sun (i.e., sun beds).

Conclusion:

  

Exposure to artificial sun by the use of sun beds >3 times per year was associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of endometrial cancer, probably by improving the vitamin D levels during winter.

Keywords:

endometrial cancer, lifestyle, risk factor, sun habits, sun bed use, vitamin D

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