Including non-melanocytic types, skin cancer is still the most common cancer in Germany. The objective of this study is to investigate current trends of skin cancer mortality in Germany. Data of the death statistics from 1998 to 2017 were analyzed using joinpoint regression models. Age standardized skin cancer mortality declined since 2013 (annual percentage change -2.1% [95% CI: -4.0 to -0.2%]), while in previous years an increase of +3.4% (95% CI: 1.3 to 5.4%) was observed. The development is mainly driven by a decreasing melanoma mortality. Possible causes of the trend change are especially the nationwide skin cancer screening which was introduced in 2008 and the growing availability of new systemic therapies from about 2011. Further research is needed to estimate the extent of the respective causal contributions.
Keywords: Epidemiology; Melanoma; Non-melanocytic skin cancer; Skin cancer screening; Treatment options.