Global statistics analysing skin cancer incidence based on social and economic factors released

An international study on skin cancer has been conducted by derma.plus to better understand the geographical and socioeconomic factors which make incidences of the disease more common in certain regions than others.

Investigating 62 countries across the globe, the International Skin Cancer Index was divided into the Skin Cancer Susceptibility Index and the Socio-Economic Treatment Index. The first index analysed the UV factor, the average population skin-tone and the rate of incidences from a range of countries to identify geographically where the highest rates of skin cancer are most likely to occur. The latter, cross references national health spending, access to treatment and individual income against mortality rates to better understand the efforts undertaken worldwide to combat the disease. 

The top 10 countries with the most new skin cancer cases per population were New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Slovenia, the USA and the UK. Those with the least new incidences included Bangladesh, Iraq, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Philippines, Indonesia and Iran. 

“Incidence of both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers has increased dramatically over the past decades,” stated professor Dietrich Abeck, chief medical advisor for derma.plus. “This study is indicative that a high level of UV exposure, coupled with a lighter skin tone (as calculated by the Fitzpatrick-Scale) led to a higher diagnosis of skin cancer. However on the other hand, the index reveals that countries such as New Zealand and Australia, which have some of the highest incidences of skin cancer, also have some of the lowest death rates due to high levels of health expenditure.”