Abstract C026: Global disparities in melanoma incidence, mortality and mortality-to-incidence ratio: An analytical framework utilizing the human development index

Abstract Introduction: This study aims to quantify the inequalities in melanoma incidence, mortality, and the mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) across countries with varying levels of the Human Development Index (HDI) and other socioeconomic indicators. Methods: We conducted an ecological study using data on age-standardized melanoma incidence and mortality rates from GLOBOCAN 2022, along with socioeconomic indicators (including the Human Development Index, years of education, average years of schooling, life expectancy, and Gross National Income) sourced from the World Bank for 165 countries. We calculated the mortality-to-incidence ratio and categorized the socioeconomic indicators into four groups. Differences between melanoma incidence and socioeconomic indicators were evaluated using ANOVA tests, and correlations were calculated using the Spearman method. Results: Our analysis revealed significant differences in incidence and mortality rates based on socioeconomic indicators (ANOVA p-value < 0.001 for all indicators). The Spearman correlation demonstrated a direct relationship between incidence and various indicators: Mean Years of Schooling (MYS) (0.615), HDI (0.595), Expected Years of Schooling (EYS) (0.577), Gross National Income (GNI) (0.532), and Life Expectancy at Birth (LEB) (0.5). Similarly, mortality rates also showed direct correlations with these indicators: MYS (0.548), EYS (0.526), HDI (0.501), GNI (0.422), and LEB (0.399). Conversely, we observed an inverse relationship between the mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) and socioeconomic indicators: GNI (-0.624), HDI (-0.612), LEB (-0.553), EYS (-0.542), and MYS (-0.521). There were significant differences in the MIR when analyzed by groups based on socioeconomic indicators (ANOVA p-value < 0.001 for all indicators). Conclusion: This study establishes a direct correlation between melanoma incidence and mortality rates with the Human Development Index (HDI), highlighting significant disparities. Additionally, we found an inversely proportional relationship between the melanoma mortality-to-incidence ratio and HDI. This indicates that higher levels of development are associated with lower mortality rates relative to incidence. These findings underscore the need to address inequalities in melanoma outcomes on a global scale. Citation Format: Joseph A. Pinto, Roberto Paz-Manrique, Henry L. Gomez. Global disparities in melanoma incidence, mortality and mortality-to-incidence ratio: An analytical framework utilizing the human development index [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C026.