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FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — U.S. states with more physicians and a larger percentage of non-Hispanic whites have worse melanoma survival, according to a study published online Jan. 16 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Zachary H. Hopkins, M.D., from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and colleagues examined possible sociodemographic and health care-based predictors of differences in U.S. melanoma survival. U.S. Cancer Statistics data from 1999 to 2014 were used to calculate state-based melanoma mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs).<\/p>\n
The researchers found that the mean overall MIR was 0.15 \u00b1 0.04, with Alaska being the only outlier (0.24). Over time, no state MIRs increased significantly; for most states, MIRs decreased. In multivariable analysis, higher MIRs (poorer survival) were seen in states with more active physicians and a higher percentage of non-Hispanic whites. Significant correlations were noted between MIR and melanoma incidence, melanoma mortality, dermatologist density, and National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center count.<\/p>\n
“The analysis is telling us that two people with similar melanomas could have very different outcomes based on where they live and the care they receive,” a coauthor said in a statement. “We can use this information to improve care to help more people survive.”<\/p>\n
One author disclosed financial ties to VisualDx.<\/p>\n
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