Death From Skin Cancer Among the Elderly

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Abstract
Background: Melanoma has been the focus of early detection efforts of skin cancer because it is the leading cause of death from skin disorders. Objective: To document the patterns of mortality from skin cancer throughout life. Design: Population-based mortality registration. Setting: United States, 1979 through 1991. Patients: Decedents from skin cancer. Intervention: None. Main Outcome Measure: Distribution of deaths from skin cancer by cause of death, age, gender, and race. Results: Skin cancer was responsible for 61 458 deaths during the 8 years studied, 72% of which were attributed to melanoma. Melanoma accounted for about 90% of deaths from skin cancer among whites younger than 50 years, but only a minority of deaths among blacks and among whites older than 85 years. Conclusion: Efforts at early detection among the elderly white population should focus on both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers. Arch Dermatol. 1997;133:1207-1209

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