The global burden of melanoma: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

Summary Background Despite recent improvements in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, vast differences in melanoma burden still exist between populations. Comparative data can highlight these differences and lead to focused efforts to reduce the burden of melanoma. Objectives To assess global, regional and national melanoma incidence, mortality and disability‐adjusted life year (DALY) estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Methods Vital registration system and cancer registry data were used for melanoma mortality modelling. Incidence and prevalence were estimated using separately modelled mortality‐to‐incidence ratios. Total prevalence was divided into four disease phases and multiplied by disability weights to generate years lived with disability (YLDs). Deaths in each age group were multiplied by the reference life expectancy to generate years of life lost (YLLs). YLDs and YLLs were added to estimate DALYs. Results The five world regions with the greatest melanoma incidence, DALY and mortality rates were Australasia, North America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Central Europe. With the exception of regions in sub‐Saharan Africa, DALY and mortality rates were greater in men than in women. DALY rate by age was highest in those aged 75–79 years, 70–74 years and ≥ 80 years. Conclusions The greatest burden from melanoma falls on Australasian, North American, European, elderly and male populations, which is consistent with previous investigations. These substantial disparities in melanoma burden worldwide highlight the need for aggressive prevention efforts. The Global Burden of Disease Study results can help shape melanoma research and public policy. What's already known about this topic? Melanoma incidence and mortality has been assessed in the past for individual countries or world regions. What does this study add? As part of the Global Burden of Disease Study, melanoma burden was estimated at the global, regional and country level for incidence, mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability, years of life lost and disability‐adjusted life years. These estimates can be used to guide prevention and treatment strategies, as well as resource allocation. Respond to this article Plain language summary available online