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Complete Health Indicator Report of Melanoma of the Skin Deaths

Definition

The rate of death from melanoma of the skin (ICD-10: C43) per 100,000 population.

Numerator

The number of deaths due to malignant melanoma of the skin for a given time period (ICD-10: C43).

Denominator

The population of Utah for a given time period.

Why Is This Important?

While melanoma is much less common than other skin cancers such as basal cell and squamous cell, it is far more dangerous. According to the American Cancer Society, there are several risk factors associated with melanoma. Risk factors that can be individually controlled or modified are excessive exposure to sunlight and UV radiation during work and recreation. A history of sunburns early in life significantly increases one's risk for melanoma. Risk for melanoma also increases with the increased severity of sunburn or blisters. Lifetime sun exposure, even if sunburn does not occur, is another risk factor for melanoma. Another risk factor for melanoma is geography. People who live in certain areas of the U.S. such as areas with a high elevation, warmer climate, and where sunlight can be reflected by sand, water, snow, and ice experience higher rates of melanoma. Utah is one such geographic location that provides these conditions. Risk for melanoma is greatly increased by the practice of tanning, both outside with oils and by using sunlamps and tanning booths. Even people who tan well without burning are at risk for melanoma. Tan skin is evidence of skin damaged by UV radiation. The risk of melanoma is greatly increased by using these artificial sources of UV radiation before age 30. Health care providers strongly encourage people, especially young people, to avoid tanning beds, booths, and sunlamps.

Healthy People Objective C-8:

Reduce the melanoma cancer death rate
U.S. Target: 2.4 deaths per 100,000 population
State Target: 2.8 deaths per 100,000 population

Other Objectives

CSTE Chronic Disease Indicators

How Are We Doing?

Utah has consistently ranked as one of the highest states in terms of melanoma incidence and mortality nationwide, partially due to its geographic features such as high elevation and desert landscape that contribute to increased risk of developing melanoma. In Utah, melanoma death rates have decreased somewhat in the past decade, from 4.0 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2009 to 2.8 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2020. Skin cancer death rates in Utah vary based on geography, age, sex, and ethnicity. Age-adjusted mortality rates for combined years 2016-2020 show melanoma death rates vary across local health districts (LHDs), from a high of 4.7 deaths per 100,000 persons in Southeast Utah LHD to 1.6 deaths per 100,000 persons in Central Utah LHD, though caution should be used in interpreting these rates as these estimates have a high coefficient of variation. Rates of skin cancer deaths increase significantly with age. From 2018-2020 for all groups over the age of 45, males were significantly more likely to die from skin cancer than females (9.1 deaths per 100,000 males compared to 5.2 deaths per 100,000 females). Data from the last 10 years (2010-2020) show that those who ethnically identify as non-Hispanic have significantly higher rates of skin cancer death (3.2 deaths per 100,000 persons) compared to those who identify as Hispanic (0.6 deaths per 100,000 persons).

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Trends in melanoma cancer mortality rate have remained fairly steady across the U.S. in recent decades. In Utah, melanoma death rates have decreased somewhat in the past decade, from 4.0 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2009 to 2.8 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2020. However, melanoma death rates in Utah still remain higher than the U.S. (the latest available national data from 2018 show a melanoma mortality rate of 2.1 deaths per 100,000 persons in the U.S. compared to 2.8 deaths per 100,000 persons in Utah). Utah has consistently ranked as one of the highest states in terms of melanoma incidence and mortality nationwide, partially due to its geographic features such as high elevation and desert landscape that contribute to increased risk of developing melanoma.

What Is Being Done?

The Utah Comprehensive Cancer Control program (CCC) and its affiliated coalition, the Utah Cancer Action Network (UCAN), work together with state and local partners to reduce the burden of cancer in Utah. Their mission is to lower cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality in Utah through collaborative efforts directed toward cancer prevention and control. As a result, they support community-based strategies around food security, healthy neighborhoods, access to health care, and financial toxicity in order to prevent cancer; detect cancer early; and improve the lives of cancer survivors, caregivers, and their families.


Related Indicators

Relevant Population Characteristics

Rates of skin cancer deaths increase significantly with age. Exposure to sunlight and UV radiation are risk factors that increase one's risk.

Related Relevant Population Characteristics Indicators:


Related Health Care System Factors Indicators:


Risk Factors

Risk factors that can be individually controlled or modified are excessive exposure to sunlight and UV radiation during work and recreation. A history of sunburns early in life significantly increases one's risk for melanoma. Risk for melanoma also increases with the increased severity of sunburn or blisters. Lifetime sun exposure, even if sunburn does not occur, is another risk factor for melanoma. Risk for melanoma is greatly increased by the practice of tanning, both outside with oils and by using sunlamps and tanning booths. Another risk factor for melanoma is geography. People who live in certain areas of the U.S. such as areas with a high elevation, warmer climate, and where sunlight can be reflected by sand, water, snow, and ice experience higher rates of melanoma.

Related Risk Factors Indicators:


Related Health Status Outcomes Indicators:




Graphical Data Views

Melanoma of the Skin Deaths, Utah and U.S., 1999-2020

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Utah vs. U.S.YearAge-adjusted Death Rate per 100,000 PopulationLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 42
Utah19993.12.34.2
Utah20002.61.93.6
Utah20013.12.34.1
Utah20023.42.64.4
Utah20033.62.84.6
Utah20043.12.34.0
Utah20053.82.94.8
Utah20063.83.04.8
Utah20073.12.44.0
Utah20082.82.23.7
Utah20094.03.24.9
Utah20103.83.04.8
Utah20113.83.04.7
Utah20123.73.04.6
Utah20133.52.84.3
Utah20143.42.74.2
Utah20152.92.33.7
Utah20162.92.23.6
Utah20172.62.03.3
Utah20182.82.23.5
Utah20192.82.23.4
Utah20202.82.23.5
U.S.19992.62.62.7
U.S.20002.72.62.7
U.S.20012.72.62.7
U.S.20022.62.62.7
U.S.20032.72.62.7
U.S.20042.72.62.7
U.S.20052.82.72.8
U.S.20062.72.72.8
U.S.20072.72.62.8
U.S.20082.72.62.8
U.S.20092.82.82.9
U.S.20102.82.72.8
U.S.20112.72.72.8
U.S.20122.72.62.7
U.S.20132.72.62.7
U.S.20142.62.52.6
U.S.20152.42.42.5
U.S.20162.22.12.2
U.S.20172.12.02.1
U.S.20182.12.02.1

Data Notes

ICD-O3 Site C440-C449 and Histology 8720-8790: Melanoma of the Skin, which corresponds to ICD-10 code C43.   [[br]][[br]] Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population.

Data Sources

  • Utah Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health
  • Population Estimates: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, IBIS Version 2019
  • U.S. Underlying Cause of Death Data: WONDER Online Database. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Accessed at [http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html]


Melanoma of the Skin Deaths by Local Health District, Utah, 2016-2020

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Local Health DistrictAge-adjusted Death Rate per 100,000 PopulationLower LimitUpper LimitNote
Record Count: 14
Bear River3.22.04.7
Central1.60.63.3*
Davis County3.02.24.0
Salt Lake County2.72.33.2
San Juan4.61.211.9*
Southeast4.72.48.4
Southwest2.81.93.8
Summit2.50.76.2*
Tooele2.40.95.0*
TriCounty2.00.64.6*
Utah County2.41.73.2
Wasatch4.61.610.4*
Weber-Morgan3.32.34.5
State of Utah2.82.53.1

Data Notes

ICD-O3 Site C440-C449 and Histology 8720-8790: Melanoma of the Skin, which corresponds to ICD-10 code C43.   [[br]][[br]] Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population. *Use caution in interpreting, the estimate has a relative standard error greater than 30% and does not meet UDOH standards for reliability. **The estimate has been suppressed because 1) the relative standard error is greater than 50% or 2) the observed number of events is very small and not appropriate for publication. For more information, please go to [http://ibis.health.utah.gov/pdf/resource/DataSuppression.pdf]. Prior to 2015 San Juan County was part of the Southeast Local Health District. In 2015 the San Juan County Local Health District was formed. Data reported are for all years using the current boundaries.

Data Sources

  • Utah Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health
  • Population Estimates: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, IBIS Version 2019


Melanoma of the Skin Deaths by Age and Sex, Utah, 2018-2020

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Males vs. FemalesAge GroupRate per 100,000 PopulationLower LimitUpper LimitNote
Record Count: 9
Male<450.40.20.7
Male45-643.52.44.9
Male65+19.415.823.6
Female<450.20.10.4*
Female45-643.42.34.8
Female65+8.26.010.9
Total<450.30.20.5
Total45-643.42.64.4
Total65+13.411.315.8

Data Notes

ICD-O3 Site C440-C449 and Histology 8720-8790: Melanoma of the Skin, which corresponds to ICD-10 code C43.   [[br]][[br]] *Use caution in interpreting, the estimate has a relative standard error greater than 30% and does not meet UDOH standards for reliability. For more information, please go to [http://ibis.health.utah.gov/pdf/resource/DataSuppression.pdf]

Data Sources

  • Utah Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health
  • Population Estimates: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, IBIS Version 2019


Melanoma of the Skin Deaths by Ethnicity, Utah, 2010-2020

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Hispanic EthnicityAge-adjusted Rate per 100,000 PopulationLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 3
Hispanic0.60.31.0
Non-Hispanic3.23.03.4
All Utahns3.02.83.2

Data Notes

ICD-O3 Site C440-C449 and Histology 8720-8790: Melanoma of the Skin, which corresponds to ICD-10 code C43.   [[br]][[br]]Age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population using 3 age groups.

Data Sources

  • Utah Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health
  • Population Estimates by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin for Counties in Utah, U.S. Bureau of the Census, IBIS Version 2019

References and Community Resources

American Cancer Society: [http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/SkinCancer-Melanoma/index][[br]] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: [http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/][[br]] Huntsman Cancer Institute: [http://www.huntsmancancer.org][[br]] National Cancer Institute: [http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma][[br]] Utah Cancer Control Program: [http://www.cancerutah.org][[br]] Utah Cancer Action Network: [http://www.ucan.cc]

More Resources and Links

Evidence-based community health improvement ideas and interventions may be found at the following sites:
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER Database, a system for disseminating public health data and information.
  • United States Census Bureau data dashboard.
  • Utah healthy Places Index, evidence-based and peer-reviewed tool, supports efforts to prioritize equitable community investments, develop critical programs and policies across the state, and much more.
  • County Health Rankings
  • Kaiser Family Foundation's StateHealthFacts.org
  • Medical literature can be queried at PubMed library.



Page Content Updated On 10/26/2021, Published on 02/18/2022
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH web site (http://ibis.health.state.gov). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 12:55:05 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web site: http://ibis.health.state.gov ".

Content updated: Fri, 18 Feb 2022 14:18:10 MST