Table 2:
Prevalence and Odds Ratios of Skin Cancer Risk Behaviors by Sexual Orientation and Sex
| Lifetime Development of Any Skin Cancer | ||||||||||
| Male Sex Prevalence (OR/aOR [95% CI]) | Female Sex Prevalence (OR/aOR [95% CI]) | |||||||||
| Article | Data Source | Variable | Gay | Bisexual | Sexual Minority | Heterosexual | Gay | Bisexual | Sexual Minority | Heterosexual |
| Mansh et al, 2015 | 2009 California Health Interview Survey (n = 36,814) | Lifetime diagnosis of any skin cancer | - | - | 4.3% (1.6 [1.2–2.1]) | 2.7% (10 [ref]) | - | - | 2.3% (0.8 [0.6–1.2]) | 2.6% (10 [ref]) |
| 2015 National Health Interview Survey (n = 13,698) | Lifetime diagnosis of any skin cancer | - | - | 6.7% (2.1 [1.1–4.0]) | 3.2% (10 [ref]) | - | - | 1.6% (0.5 [0.1–2.0]) | 3.1% (10 [ref]) | |
| Singer et al, 2020 | 2014–2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey (n = 845,264) | Lifetime diagnosis of any skin cancer | 8.1% (1.3 [1.1–1.5]) | 8.4% (1.5 [1.0–2.2]) | - | 6.7% (10 [ref]) | 5.9% (1.0 [0.7–13]) | 4.7% (0.8 [0.6–1.0]) | - | 6.6% (10 [ref]) |
| Any Indoor Tanning Bed Use* | ||||||||||
| Male Sex Prevalence (OR/aOR [95% CI]) | Female Sex Prevalence (OR/aOR [95% CI]) | |||||||||
| Article | Data Source | Variable | Gay | Bisexual | Sexual Minority | Heterosexual | Gay | Bisexual | Sexual Minority | Heterosexual |
| Blashill, et al, 2014 | National Longitudinal Adolescent Health study, age 16 (n = 1,767) | Any indoor tanning bed use (ever)a | - | - | 27.0% (3.9 [1.6–9.8]) | 8.6% (1.0 [ref]) | - | - | - | - |
| Gao et al., 2018 | 2015 National Health Interview Survey (n = 13,698) | Any indoor tanning bed use (ever)b | - | - | 22.1% (3.1 [2.1–4.6]) | 9.1% (10 [ref]) | - | - | - | - |
| Gao et al., 2018 | 2015 National Health Interview Survey (n = 13,698) | Any indoor tanning bed use (last 12 months)b | - | - | 6.6% (5.9 [3.5–9.8]) | 1.5% (10 [ref]) | - | - | - | - |
| Mansh et al., 2015 | 2009 California Health Interview Survey (n = 36,814) | Any Indoor Tanning Bed Use in Past 12 monthsc | - | - | 7.4% (5.8 [2.9–11.6] | 1.5% (10 [ref]) | - | - | 2.6% (0.4 [0.2–0.9]) | 5% (10 [ref]) |
| Any Indoor Tanning Bed Use in Past 12 months; Ages 18–34c | - | - | 11.1% (5.9 [2.1–17.0]) | 2.3% (10 [ref]) | - | - | 4.8% (0.5 [0.2–1.4]) | 7.5% (10 [ref]) | ||
| 2013 National Health Interview Survey (n = 33,350) | Any Indoor Tanning Bed Use in Past 12 monthsd | - | - | 5.1% (3.2 [1.8–5.6]) | 1.6% (10 [ref]) | - | - | 4.2% (0.5 [0.3–0.8)]) | 6.5% (10 [ref]) | |
| Any Indoor Tanning Bed Use in Past 12 months; Ages 18–34d | - | - | 10.6% (3.6 [1.5–8.4]) | 2.6% (10 [ref]) | - | - | 7.6% (0.4 [0.2–0.7]) | 12.2% (10 [ref]) | ||
| Yeung et al., 2016 | 2013 National Health Interview Survey (n = 34,557) | Any Indoor Tanning Bed Use in Past 12 monthse | 5.0% (2.8 [1.4–5.6]) | 7.1% (4.6 [1.6–13.2]) | - | 1.7% (10 [ref]) | 4.1% (0.5 [0.3–12]) | 6.1% (0.6 [0.3–1.3]) | - | 6.6% (10 [ref]) |
| Yeung et al., 2019 | 2015 National Health Interview Survey (n = 18,601) | Any Indoor Tanning Device Use in past 12 monthsf | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6.6% (0.9 [0.5–1.5]) | 5.2% (10 [ref]) |
| Frequent Indoor Tanning Bed Use (10 or more uses in 12 months) | ||||||||||
| Male Sex Prevalence* (OR/aOR* [95% CI]) | Female Sex Prevalence (OR/aOR [95% CI]) | |||||||||
| Article | Data Source | Variable | Gay | Bisexual | Sexual Minority | Heterosexual | Gay | Bisexual | Sexual Minority | Heterosexua |
| Rosario et al., 2016 | Growing Up Today Study (1999–2010) (n = 8,752) | Frequent Indoor Tanning Bed Use in Past 12 months (10 or more uses)g | 24% (4.7 [3.0–7.4]) | 8.3% (1.3 [0.4–4.9]) | - | 7.2% (10 [ref]) | 22.5% (0.4 [0.3–0.7]) | 21.3% (0.4 [0.3–0.6]) | - | 41.6% (10 [ref]) |
| Yeung et al., 2016 | 2013 National Health Interview Survey (n = 34,557) | Frequent Indoor Tanning Bed Use in Past 12 months (10 or more uses)e | 3.4% (4.7 [2.0–112]) | 4.5% (7.4 [2.1–26.4]) | - | 0.7% (10 [ref]) | 2.1% (0.5 [0.2–14]) | 4.5% (0.8 [0.3–2.0]) | - | 3.7% (10 [ref]) |
| Outdoor Sun Exposure | ||||||||||
| Male Sex Prevalence* (OR/aOR* [95% CI]) | Female Sex Prevalence (OR/aOR [95% CI]) | |||||||||
| Article | Data Source | Variable | Gay | Bisexual | Sexual Minority | Heterosexual | Gay | Bisexual | Sexual Minority | Heterosexua |
| Blashill, et al., 2014 | National Longitudinal Adolescent Health study, age 16 (n = 1,767) | Frequent or occasional sunbathing to get a tan, age 16a | - | - | 22.3% (1.7 [0.7–4.3]) | 14.5% (10 [ref]) | - | - | - | - |
| Gao et al., 2018 | 2015 National Health Interview Survey (n = 13,698) | Sunburn in last 12 months (at least 1)b | - | - | 36.1% (1.0 [0.7–1.3]) | 35.1% (10 [ref]) | - | - | - | - |
| Rosario et al, 2016 | Growing Up Today Study (1999–2010) (n = 8,752) | Sun exposed sometimes, frequently, or always last summerg | 90.9% (0.9 [0.7–1.3]) | 91.3% (1.0 [0.5–2.0]) | - | 87.4% (10 [ref]) | 85.7% (1.0 [0.7–14]) | 76.5% (0.8 [0.6–1.0]) | - | 83.7% (10 [ref]) |
| Frequent Sunburns (5 or more times last summer)g | 17.8% (0.8 [0.5–1.3]) | 16.7% (0.6 [0.2–1.4]) | - | 22.1% (10 [ref]) | 25.0% (1.1 [0.7–19]) | 23.5% (1.1 [0.7–17]) | - | 25.3% (10 [ref]) | ||
| Yeung et al., 2019 | 2015 National Health Interview Survey (n = 18,601) | Sunburn (1 or more) in past 12 months | - | - | - | - | - | - | 43.3% (1.08 [0.8–1.5]) | 33.2% (10 [ref]) |
| Infrequent Sunscreen Use | ||||||||||
| Male Sex Prevalence* (OR/aOR* [95% CI]) | Female Sex Prevalence (OR/aOR [95% CI]) | |||||||||
| Article | Data Source | Variable | Gay | Bisexual | Sexual Minority | Heterosexual | Gay | Bisexual | Sexual Minority | Heterosexual |
| Blashill, et al., 2014 | National Longitudinal Adolescent Health study, age 16 (n = 1,767) | Unlikely to wear sunblock when outside for >1 hour, age 16a | - | - | 70.5% (0.9 [0.4–2.0]) | 73.5% (10 [ref]) | - | - | - | - |
| Unlikely to wear sunblock when outside for >1 hour, age 29a | - | - | 75.9% (1.0 [0.4–3.0]) | 75.2% (10 [ref]) | - | - | - | - | ||
| Rosario et al., 2016 | Growing Up Today Study (1999–2010) (n = 8,752) | Infrequent or seldom use of sunscreeng | 20.8% (1.3 [0.9–17]) | 8.3% (1.0 [0.8–1.3]) | - | 17.6% (10 [ref]) | 15.0% (1.1 [0.8–15]) | 9.6% (1.2 [0.6–2.3]) | - | 7.4% (10 [ref]) |
Prevalence and odds ratios are unadjusted
Age-adjusted prevalence rates standardized against the age distribution of adult men in the general population; odds ratios adjusted for age, race, region, educational level, body mass index, sun sensitivity, personal history of skin cancer, and family history of skin cancer
Age-adjusted prevalence rates standardized against the age distribution of adult men in the general population; odds ratios adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, annual household income, health care use, smoking history, and current alcohol consumption
Age-adjusted prevalence rates standardized against the age distribution of adult men in the general population; odds ratios adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, region, body mass index, annual household income, health care use, smoking history, current alcohol consumption, and immunosuppression
Unadjusted prevalence rate; odds ratio adjusted for age group, race/ethnicity, educational level, income level, health insurance status, geogprahic region, and personal history of any skin cancer
Unadjusted prevalence rate; odds ratio adjusted for age group, race/ethnicity, income level, 116 smoking status, heavy alcohol use, and body mass index.
Unadjusted prevalence rate; odds ratio adjusted for age and race/ethnicity
Note: Blashill et al. (2017) reported on skin cancer risk among sexual minorities, however they only provided results stratified by race so the data could not be incorporated into this table.