Skin Cancers and Their Risk Factors in Older Persons: A Population-Based Study
November 2021
in “
Research Square (Research Square)
”
TLDR Older men and those with outdoor jobs are at higher risk for skin cancer; early full-body skin checks are recommended for early detection.
The retrospective cross-sectional study examined 552 subjects aged between 70 and 93 years to identify risk factors for skin cancer in older individuals. The study found that 25.5% of participants had skin cancer or its precursor, with a higher prevalence in males (34.5%) than in females (20.2%). The risk of subsequent skin cancer was 2.6 times higher in individuals with a previous skin cancer diagnosis. Male sex and outdoor work were identified as specific risk factors for the first occurrence of skin cancer. The study also found associations between skin cancer and age and socioeconomic status. The researchers recommend total body skin examination (TBSE) for physicians treating older persons for early recognition of skin cancers or their precursors, with particular attention needed for older males.
