Trends in melanoma in the elderly in Denmark, 1980-2012

The incidence of melanoma is rising in Denmark. In the present paper we describe incidence, mortality and survival in Denmark from 1980 to 2012 focusing on age, comparing persons aged 70 years or more with those aged less than 70 years.

Melanoma was defined as ICD-10 code C43. Data derived from the NORDCAN database with comparable data on incidence, mortality, survival in the Nordic countries, where the Danish data were delivered from the Danish Cancer Registry and the Danish Cause of Death Registry with follow-up until the end of 2013.

In 1980, 21.4% of the patients diagnosed with melanoma were older than 70 years compared to 28.4% in 2012. In persons aged less than 70 years, the incidence rate was higher among women than in men, but men aged 70-89 years had an incidence rate almost twice that of women. Incidence rates were increasing, particularly among the elderly. In 1980, 32.6% of the patients who died from melanoma were older than 69 years compared to 56.2% in 2012. In 1980, the mortality rate was 121.4 per 100,000 person years, increasing to 353.1 in 2012. For the younger patients, the mortality rates are only slight increasing, but for the elder patients the mortality rates are increasing dramatically. In general the survival has increased for all age groups over the years.

The incidence rates for all age groups are rising. The increase was mainly caused by a rising incidence among the elderly. Mortality among Danish patients with melanoma is increasing and especially the mortality in the elderly. This important knowledge must be kept in mind when future treatment strategies are planned.