Study: Melanoma Declining Among Ages 30-59 in Sweden

Melanoma incidence and mortality rates have declined in recent years among 30- to 59-year-olds in Sweden, according to a recent study published in JAMA Dermatology.

A cohort study involving Sweden’s entire population found a continuous rise in primary invasive cutaneous melanoma incidence among people 50 to 59 years old from 1990 to 2022, but incidences peaked from 2013 to 2015 among people ages 20 to 49, followed by stable or statistically significant declining rates through 2022; in patients younger than 20, incidence remained low. A statistically significant decline in melanoma mortality was observed in people ages 30 to 59.

“These findings suggest that melanoma incidence and mortality may eventually decrease among the entire population in Sweden,” the authors wrote.

They added that the reasons for the decline are unclear but may include UV protection, public health campaigns, changing population demographics, and the introduction of effective melanoma treatment.