Elderly population faces escalating melanoma incidence over three decades
Source: News Medical Life Science, October 2024
Background and objectives
The prevalence and fatality rates of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) have been rising, particularly among the elderly. This study analyzes CMM incidence trends in the United States elderly population from 1987 to 2016 to inform prevention and management strategies.
Methods
Using incidence data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database spanning 1989 to 2008, we calculated the age-adjusted standardized population incidence rates for CMM in elderly individuals. The Joinpoint software was employed to estimate annual percent change and analyze trends in CMM incidence among elderly individuals from 1987 to 2016.
Results
The study included 56,997 elderly CMM patients from eight Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries, of whom 36,726 were male (64.4%). The age-adjusted CMM incidence rate from 2012 to 2016 was 0.99 per 1,000, a 2.8-fold increase from 1987–1991 (95% confidence interval: 2.7–2.9). Incidence rates increased with age and birth cohort, peaking at 1.53 per 1,000 males and 0.59 per 1,000 females aged 85+ during 2012–2016. Birth cohort effects also showed a continuous increase.