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

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.