OBJECTIVE

To determine if an association exists between the prevalence of melanoma and socioeconomic status based on income gradients in a large population of over 12 million people in Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

A population-based cross-sectional study using administrative health care databases was conducted. Individuals were divided into five income quintiles based on median neighborhood household income. A Mantel-Haenszel extension test was used to assess whether there was a gradient in the prevalence of melanoma across income groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine if median neighborhood income predicted the prevalence of a melanoma, independent of gender, age, and urban-rural residence status.

RESULTS

The study cohort consisted of 14,623 patients with melanoma. Between the lowest income group of $37,637 and the highest income group of $84,162, the prevalence of melanoma increased by 225%. Our study also identified an association between melanoma prevalence and rural residence. The overall prevalence rate was 30% (p < .01) higher in rural areas compared with urban areas.

CONCLUSION

A higher socioeconomic status and rural versus urban residence status appear to be significant risk factors for the development of melanoma in Ontario.