TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of melanoma incidence and trends among youth under 25 years in Australia and England, 1990-2010
AU - Wallingford, Sarah C.
AU - Iannacone, Michelle R.
AU - Youlden, Danny R.
AU - Baade, Peter D.
AU - Ives, Alexander
AU - Verne, Julia
AU - Aitken, Joanne F.
AU - Green, Adèle C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 UICC.
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - White populations in Australia and England share many genetic and phenotypic characteristics due to common ancestry, but Australians experience far higher rates of melanoma due to higher ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR) levels. To gain insight into the role of UVR on melanoma development early in life, we used national cancer registration data and compared recent incidence rates and long-term trends of primary invasive cutaneous melanoma in Australian and English youth aged 0-24 years diagnosed 1990-2010. Incidence rates and standardized rate ratios (SRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 2006-2010 were calculated and incidence trends across the whole period were examined using JoinPoint regression. In Australian youth, overall melanoma incidence was double that in English youth (2.2 and 1.1 per 100,000, respectively). While melanoma rates were similarly rare among children <10 years in both countries, in subsequent 5-year age groups, incidence was significantly higher in Australia compared to England. Melanoma incidence among 15-24 year olds significantly increased by more than 2% per year in both sexes in England. However, after an initial non-significant increase, Australian rates for this older age group significantly decreased by 6.0% (95% CI, -8.2 to -3.8) per year in females from 1997 and decreased by 12.4% (95% CI, -20.3 to -3.8) per year in males from 2004. Long-standing primary prevention strategies targeted at curbing UVR exposure appear to have been effective in mitigating incidence trends in Australian youth, but decreases in incidence in English youth are yet to be observed. What's New? It's no surprise that white Australians get more skin cancer than their cousins in England, because the sun is far stronger in Australia. This study examined melanoma rates among young people in Australia and England. Among children under 10, incidence was low in both countries. Beyond age 10, though, Australians develop the disease in greater numbers. However, over the past decade, melanoma rates among Australians have been steadily decreasing, 6% per year for girls and 12% per year for boys, suggesting that efforts to reduce UV exposure have been effective. Meanwhile, incidence continued to rise each year in England.
AB - White populations in Australia and England share many genetic and phenotypic characteristics due to common ancestry, but Australians experience far higher rates of melanoma due to higher ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR) levels. To gain insight into the role of UVR on melanoma development early in life, we used national cancer registration data and compared recent incidence rates and long-term trends of primary invasive cutaneous melanoma in Australian and English youth aged 0-24 years diagnosed 1990-2010. Incidence rates and standardized rate ratios (SRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 2006-2010 were calculated and incidence trends across the whole period were examined using JoinPoint regression. In Australian youth, overall melanoma incidence was double that in English youth (2.2 and 1.1 per 100,000, respectively). While melanoma rates were similarly rare among children <10 years in both countries, in subsequent 5-year age groups, incidence was significantly higher in Australia compared to England. Melanoma incidence among 15-24 year olds significantly increased by more than 2% per year in both sexes in England. However, after an initial non-significant increase, Australian rates for this older age group significantly decreased by 6.0% (95% CI, -8.2 to -3.8) per year in females from 1997 and decreased by 12.4% (95% CI, -20.3 to -3.8) per year in males from 2004. Long-standing primary prevention strategies targeted at curbing UVR exposure appear to have been effective in mitigating incidence trends in Australian youth, but decreases in incidence in English youth are yet to be observed. What's New? It's no surprise that white Australians get more skin cancer than their cousins in England, because the sun is far stronger in Australia. This study examined melanoma rates among young people in Australia and England. Among children under 10, incidence was low in both countries. Beyond age 10, though, Australians develop the disease in greater numbers. However, over the past decade, melanoma rates among Australians have been steadily decreasing, 6% per year for girls and 12% per year for boys, suggesting that efforts to reduce UV exposure have been effective. Meanwhile, incidence continued to rise each year in England.
KW - Australia
KW - England
KW - comparison
KW - incidence
KW - melanoma
KW - young people
KW - youth
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84939268550&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ijc.29598
DO - 10.1002/ijc.29598
M3 - Article
C2 - 25960371
AN - SCOPUS:84939268550
SN - 0020-7136
VL - 137
SP - 2227
EP - 2233
JO - International Journal of Cancer
JF - International Journal of Cancer
IS - 9
ER -