| Summary: | Background Ultraviolet radiation is one of the most important environmental risk factors for cutaneous melanoma. Nonetheless, information concerning ultraviolet exposure in many populations, including the central European population, is lacking. Objectives The aim of our study was to investigate risk factors for malignant melanoma, particularly those related to ultraviolet exposure behavior in two European neighboring countries, Germany and the Czech Republic. Methods We conducted a hospital-based case-control study. 224 consecutive patients were diagnosed with melanoma in two dermatological clinics (Prague and Munich). Controls were 268 patients with other conditions from the same hospitals. All subjects completed a questionnaire on socio-demographic data and factors related to ultraviolet exposure. Associations between melanoma, ultraviolet exposure and other variables were assessed by multivariate logistic regression. Results Patients with red hair had higher risk of developing melanoma than those with other hair color (odds ratio 3.597, 95% confidence interval 1.341-9.646). A similar trend was seen when comparing phototypes; subjects with phototype I and II had a higher likelihood of melanoma than those with phototype III (OR 4.028 and 4.837, 95%CI 1.929-8.411 and 2.574- 9.086). Frequent...
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