Meta-analyses of associations of obesity with risk of melanoma and acne based on case-control studies

• Main Authors: Avni Mehta, Yasha Hasija
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019-03-01
• Series: Biomedical Dermatology
• Subjects: Meta-analysis; Obesity; Melanoma; Acne; Case-control studies
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41702-019-0041-3

Abstract Background Melanoma and acne are highly prevalent dermatological diseases. A meta-analysis of case-control studies was performed to explore obesity as a risk factor for the same. Objective The relationship between increased BMI and melanoma incidence has been investigated in the past. We utilized recent epidemiological evidence to study this association and confirm previous findings. Moreover, to date, no meta-analysis evaluating the relationship between obesity and acne has been performed. We conducted this analysis to cast light on the same. Methods PubMed database was searched systematically to identify relevant literature related to the associations of obesity with risk of melanoma and acne respectively. Meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3, and the resulting risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed. Results A total of 2304 melanoma patients and corresponding 2468 controls, and 983 acne patients and corresponding 1313 controls from 5 and 4 case-control studies respectively were finally enrolled in the meta-analysis. The results showed a weak positive association between increasing BMI (> 25 kg/m2) and melanoma (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.20–1.55), and a null association between increasing BMI (> 25 kg/m2) and acne (OR = 1.27; 95% CI = 0.98–1.65). Conclusions The result from the first meta-analysis showed that as BMI increases, there is an increased risk of melanoma incidence. The second meta-analysis revealed the absence of any significant relationship between obesity and acne. However, larger and more high-quality studies are needed to confirm this result.