Skin cancer trends among Asians living in Singapore from 1968 to 2006.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: The incidence rates of skin cancers in Caucasian populations are increasing. There is little information on skin cancer trends in Asians, who have distinctly different skin types. OBJECTIVE: We sought to study skin cancer incidence rates and time trends among the 3 Asian ethnic groups in Singapore. METHODS: We analyzed skin cancer data from the Singapore Cancer Registry from 1968 to 2006 using the Poisson regression model. RESULTS: There were 4044 reported cases of basal cell carcinoma, 2064 of squamous cell carcinoma, and 415 of melanoma. Overall skin cancer incidence rates increased from 2.9/100,000 in 1968 to 1972 to 8.4/100,000 in 1998 to 2002, declining to 7.4/100,000 in 2003 to 2006. Among older persons (> or = 60 years), basal cell carcinoma rates increased the most, by 18.9/100,000 in Chinese, 6.0/100,000 in Malays, and 4.1/100,000 in Indians from 1968 to 1972 to 2003 to 2006. Squamous cell carcinoma rates among those aged 60 years and older increased by 2.3/100,000 in Chinese and by 1/100,000 in Malays and Indians. Melanoma rates were constant for all 3 races. Skin cancer rates among the fairer-skinned Chinese were approximately 3 times higher than in Malays and Indians, who generally have darker complexions. LIMITATIONS: Although appropriate population denominators were used, lack of data from 2007 could have affected the results for the last time period, which comprised 4 instead of 5 years. CONCLUSION: Incidence rates of skin cancer in Singapore increased from 1968 to 2006, especially among older Chinese.

Author information

Author/s: Sng, Judy (J); Koh, David (D); Siong, Wong Chia (WC); Choo, Tai Bee (TB);

Affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. cofjsgk(-atsign-)nus.edu.sg

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (J Am Acad Dermatol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 61 (issue 3) : pp 426-32

Dates: Created 2009/08/24; Completed 2009/09/23;

PMID: 19628302, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/23/2009, IMS Date: )

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