Investigators analyzed the incidence of keratinocyte carcinoma by race and ethnicity in older patients with Medicare coverage, according to a recent study published by Navsaria et al in JAMA Dermatology. The investigators stressed that keratinocyte carcinoma—including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma—is estimated to be the most common cancer type among U.S. patients. In the new study, investigators analyzed deidentified Medicare claims data of beneficiaries aged 65 years and older with continuous Parts A, B, and D and no Medicare Advantage coverage from 2009 to 2018. The investigators discovered that the incidence of keratinocyte carcinoma was 11,493.2 per 100,000 person-years among non-Hispanic White patients and 1,158.2 per 100,000 person-years among patients with darker skin tones. Compared with non-Hispanic White patients, patients with darker skin tones were more likely to receive a diagnosis of keratinocyte carcinoma if they were female and older.
December 13, 2023