Time spent in the sun and the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a Canadian cohort study

Abstract

Purpose: The objective was to explore the relationship of sun behavior patterns with the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Methods: Sun behavior information from Alberta's Tomorrow Project, CARTaGENE, and Ontario Health Study were utilized. The relationship between time in the sun during summer months and risk of NHL was assessed using Cox proportional hazard models with age as the time scale and adjustment for confounders. Cohorts were analyzed separately and hazard ratios (HR) pooled with random effects meta-analysis. Joint effects of time in the sun and use of sun protection were examined. Patterns of exposure were explored via combinations of weekday and weekend time in the sun.

Results: During an average follow-up of 7.6 years, 205 NHL cases occurred among study participants (n = 79,803). Compared to < 30 min daily in the sun, we observed HRs of 0.84 (95% CI 0.55-1.28) for 30-59 min, 0.63 (95% CI 0.40-0.98) for 1-2 h, and 0.91 (95% CI 0.61-1.36) for > 2 h. There was suggestive evidence that > 2 h was protective against NHL with use of sun protection, but not without it. Compared to < 30 min daily, moderate exposure (30 min to 2 h on weekdays or weekend) was associated with a lower risk of NHL (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.43-0.92), while intermittent (< 30 min on weekdays and > 2 h on weekends) and chronic (> 2 h daily) were not.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence of a protective effect of moderate time spent in the sun on NHL risk.

Keywords: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma; Patterns of exposure; Prospective cohort; Sun exposure; Sun protection; Ultraviolet radiation.