Higher ultraviolet light exposure is associated with lower mortality: An analysis of data from the UK biobank cohort study

Andrew C Stevenson; Tom Clemens; Erola Pairo-Castineira; David J Webb; Richard B Weller; Chris Dibben

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103328

Higher ultraviolet light exposure is associated with lower mortality: An analysis of data from the UK biobank cohort study

Andrew C Stevenson, Tom Clemens, Erola Pairo-Castineira, David J Webb, Richard B Weller, Chris Dibben

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract / Description of output

We aimed to examine associations between ultraviolet (UV) exposure and mortality among older adults in the United Kingdom (UK). We used data from UK Biobank participants with two UV exposures, validated with measured vitamin D levels: solarium use and annual average residential shortwave radiation. Associations between the UV exposures, all-cause and cause-specific mortality were examined as adjusted hazard ratios. The UV exposures were inversely associated with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality. Solarium users were also at a lower risk of non-CVD/non-cancer mortality. The benefits of UV exposure may outweigh the risks in low-sunlight countries.

Original language	English
Article number	103328
Pages (from-to)	1-8
Number of pages	8
Journal	Health & Place
Volume	89
Early online date	1 Aug 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103328
Publication status	Published - Sept 2024

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Environmental health
Epidemiology
Health geography
Mortality
Population health
Ultraviolet

Access to Document

10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103328

1-s2.0-S1353829224001564-mainFinal published version, 1.69 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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Cite this

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title = "Higher ultraviolet light exposure is associated with lower mortality: An analysis of data from the UK biobank cohort study",

abstract = "We aimed to examine associations between ultraviolet (UV) exposure and mortality among older adults in the United Kingdom (UK). We used data from UK Biobank participants with two UV exposures, validated with measured vitamin D levels: solarium use and annual average residential shortwave radiation. Associations between the UV exposures, all-cause and cause-specific mortality were examined as adjusted hazard ratios. The UV exposures were inversely associated with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality. Solarium users were also at a lower risk of non-CVD/non-cancer mortality. The benefits of UV exposure may outweigh the risks in low-sunlight countries.",

keywords = "Environmental health, Epidemiology, Health geography, Mortality, Population health, Ultraviolet",

author = "Stevenson, {Andrew C} and Tom Clemens and Erola Pairo-Castineira and Webb, {David J} and Weller, {Richard B} and Chris Dibben",

note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.",

year = "2024",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103328",

language = "English",

volume = "89",

pages = "1--8",

journal = "Health & Place",

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AU - Stevenson, Andrew C

AU - Clemens, Tom

AU - Pairo-Castineira, Erola

AU - Webb, David J

AU - Weller, Richard B

AU - Dibben, Chris

PY - 2024/9

Y1 - 2024/9

N2 - We aimed to examine associations between ultraviolet (UV) exposure and mortality among older adults in the United Kingdom (UK). We used data from UK Biobank participants with two UV exposures, validated with measured vitamin D levels: solarium use and annual average residential shortwave radiation. Associations between the UV exposures, all-cause and cause-specific mortality were examined as adjusted hazard ratios. The UV exposures were inversely associated with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality. Solarium users were also at a lower risk of non-CVD/non-cancer mortality. The benefits of UV exposure may outweigh the risks in low-sunlight countries.

AB - We aimed to examine associations between ultraviolet (UV) exposure and mortality among older adults in the United Kingdom (UK). We used data from UK Biobank participants with two UV exposures, validated with measured vitamin D levels: solarium use and annual average residential shortwave radiation. Associations between the UV exposures, all-cause and cause-specific mortality were examined as adjusted hazard ratios. The UV exposures were inversely associated with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality. Solarium users were also at a lower risk of non-CVD/non-cancer mortality. The benefits of UV exposure may outweigh the risks in low-sunlight countries.

KW - Environmental health

KW - Epidemiology

KW - Health geography

KW - Mortality

KW - Population health

KW - Ultraviolet

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DO - 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103328

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JO - Health & Place

JF - Health & Place

M1 - 103328

ER -

Higher ultraviolet light exposure is associated with lower mortality: An analysis of data from the UK biobank cohort study

Abstract / Description of output

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

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Press/Media

Sun exposure benefits may outweigh risks in less sunny places, Scottish research suggests

They told us sunbeds were bad for us - were they wrong all along?

UV rays may boost health in low-sunlight countries, study finds

Cite this