In 2021, skin cancer emerged as a prominent health issue for millions of older adults worldwide. This strain was felt most by people in wealthy countries. A new retrospective study was the first to report deeply concerning statistics on incidence and mortality of skin cancer among older populations. The study was conducted by Dr. Ruiyao Wang, Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. Published online May 21 in JAMA Dermatology, the findings add to the mounting burden of this disease.
In 2021, the CDC estimated the incidence of new cases of melanoma at 153,993. These estimated a shocking 1,463,424 new cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and an even more staggering 2,802,354 new cases of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). These figures reflect a disturbing trend in skin cancer diagnosis rates, especially for people 65 and older.
Regional Disparities in Skin Cancer Incidence
Their research painted a stark picture of national, and more importantly regional, skin cancer incidence and mortality rate disparities. North America had the highest age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rate from BCC (1.21 DALY per 100000). Australasia showed very troubling numbers. It had the most rates of death due to SCC, 15.37 ASR, and DALYs, 226.92 ASR.
States such as the USA, as well as countries including Greenland, Sweden, and Switzerland were shown to have above expected BCC-related DALY rates. At the same time, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, North Macedonia and Slovenia all had melanoma-related DALY rates that exceeded anticipated levels.
Dr. Wang’s team noted that Australasia recorded the highest age-standardized rates for melanoma incidence (158.10), prevalence (1165.26), and deaths (27.83). These statistics couldn’t be more different compared to lower-middle to middle SDI countries. In those areas, melanoma-related mortality rates crash to over fivefold lower, an age-standardized rate (ASR) of only 9.49.
Implications for Public Health Strategies
This research illustrates a very concerning trend. The global burden of skin cancer is on the rise in adults over 65 years of age. The increase is even higher among males and in countries with a high socioeconomic development index (SDI).
“Our results underscore the urgency to enact prevention and treatment strategies tailored to high-risk older populations.” – study authors
This urgent call for action highlights the need for targeted public health initiatives aimed at reducing the incidence of skin cancer among vulnerable demographics. Increased awareness, early detection programs, and access to effective treatments could significantly impact outcomes for older adults in high-risk regions.
Leave a Reply