The global burden of skin cancer: A longitudinal analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 1990-2017

Katelyn Urban; Sino Mehrmal; Prabhdeep Uppal; Rachel L Giesey; Gregory R Delost

doi:10.1016/j.jdin.2020.10.013

The global burden of skin cancer: A longitudinal analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 1990-2017

JAAD Int. 2021 Jan 4:2:98-108. doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2020.10.013. eCollection 2021 Mar.

Authors

Katelyn Urban¹, Sino Mehrmal², Prabhdeep Uppal³, Rachel L Giesey⁴, Gregory R Delost^{1

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Affiliations

¹ Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Alameda Health System-Highland Hospital, Oakland, California.
³ Departments of Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware.
⁴ Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
⁵ Apex Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center, Mayfield Heights, Ohio.
⁶ Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pennsylvania.

Abstract

Background: Despite efforts toward the earlier detection and prevention of skin cancer, the prevalence of skin cancers continues to increase. Identifying trends in skin cancer burdens among populations can lead to impactful and sustainable interventions.

Methods: We assessed the global trends in skin cancer from 1990 to 2017 in 195 countries worldwide through the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2017 database.

Results: The rate of change in skin cancers between 1990 to 2017 varied among countries. Squamous cell carcinomas increased by 310% during this time, the highest among any neoplasm tracked by the GBD. Men experienced greater age-specific prevalence rates of keratinocyte carcinoma across all ages (P < .05). Women had a greater prevalence of melanoma until approximately age 50 years, after which the trend reversed until age 85 years. Men experienced greater age-specific death rates across all ages. The disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of melanoma and keratinocyte carcinoma increased exponentially with age (P < .05).

Conclusion: The incidence, prevalence, and DALYs of skin cancers are increasing disproportionately among different demographic groups. As a worldwide epidemiological assessment, the GBD 2017 provides frequently updated measures of the skin cancer burden, which may help to direct resources and allocate funding to close the gap in global skin cancer disparities.

Keywords: BCC, basal cell carcinomas; DALYs, disability-adjusted life years; Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) database; KC, keratinocyte carcinoma; SCC, squamous cell carcinomas; SDI, sociodemographic index; UVR, ultraviolet radiation; basal cell carcinoma; disability-adjusted life years (DALYs); melanoma; sociodemographic index (SDI); squamous cell carcinoma.