Sara Hewitt, Elisa J. Gordon, Marla L. Clayman, Murad Alam, Simon Yoo, John Friedewald, Alfred W. Rademaker and June K. Robinson
Background: Solid-organ transplant recipients (OTRs) have an increased risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer.
Objective: This study explored the longitudinal history of sun exposure in OTRs from a few months after transplantation to two-three years later.
Methods: OTRs, who previously completed a telephone survey in 2007 to 2009 were re-surveyed in summer 2011 about their skin cancer history and habits of sun exposure. The two sets of data were compared to assess change in sun exposure.
Results: OTRs were enrolled (baseline) a mean of 8 months (range of 6 to 17.0 months) after transplantation. The interval between enrollment and the follow-up survey was a mean of 14 months (range of 2 to 21.8 months).
Duration of self-reported weekday and weekend exposure increased from a mean of 2.05 hrs at baseline to a mean of 2.52 hours at follow-up. The mean difference in weekday exposure was 0.31 hrs (range -5.25 to 5.05 hrs) (t-test, p= 0.02, rank sum test, p =0.017) and in weekend exposure was 0.47 hrs (range-5.25 to 0.05) (t-test, p = 0.0007, rank sum test, = =0.004). Kidney transplant recipients increased the duration of weekday and weekend exposure significantly more than liver transplant recipients. (p=0.05) The number of sunburns experienced at baseline and follow-up remained consistent (p=0.58) with about 13% experiencing 1-5 sunburns each year.
Conclusion: OTRs did not limit outdoor sun exposure or experience fewer sunburns in the 14 months after their transplant. Research is needed to ascertain the impact of educational programs on skin protection behaviors.
PDFShare this article
Transplantation Technologies & Research received 223 citations as per Google Scholar report
