Trends in Skin Melanoma Burden: Findings From the Global Burden of Disease Study

Melanoma is the third most common skin cancer and the leading cause of skin cancer mortality. This study sought to investigate trends in melanoma incidence, mortality, and burden of disease.

The authors assessed the records of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 to extract information about the incidence, mortality, and disability adjusted life years (DALY) related to melanoma during 1990-2017 in the US and other countries based on their socio-demographic index (SDI).

Melanoma incidence in the US increased 1.6 times, although the difference was not statistically significant. For patients over the age of 60, the incidence was significantly increased by 1.72 to 164.6 times. Mortality was relatively stable during the study period; however, it was increased for patients over 65 years of age (range: 1.03 to 70 times), although not statistically significant. Mortality-to-incidence ratio was decreased, but the difference was not statistically significant. For patients over 75 years of age, DALYs were statistically significantly increased by 1.34 to 1.71 times.

This study highlights differences in melanoma incidence and mortality from 1990-2017. Physicians involved in melanoma care should be aware of these changes in order to anticipate care needs.