Global skin cancer burden and United States mortality trends in younger adults (Aged 20-44 Years)

Skin cancer is a growing public health concern, yet patterns in younger adults remain inadequately described. We quantified the global incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years, and age-standardized rates of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer in adults aged 20-44 years using Global Burden of Disease 2021 estimates and assessed United States melanoma mortality in those aged 25-44 years from 1999 to 2023 using national vital statistics. From 1990 to 2021, age-standardized melanoma incidence declined, whereas nonmelanoma skin cancer cases rose from 142,018 to 292,052, with an increasing age-standardized incidence of basal cell carcinoma. The burden was greatest in countries with higher sociodemographic development and peaked at ages 40-44 years; women experienced a higher incidence, but men had higher mortality. In the United States, melanoma mortality decreased from 0.99 to 0.47 deaths per 100,000 between 1999 and 2023, representing an average annual reduction of 3.56%. Projections suggest continued declines in melanoma but sustained increases in nonmelanoma skin cancer. These findings indicate a growing and uneven skin cancer burden in young adults, supporting targeted prevention and earlier detection.

Abstract from PubMed