03 Oct Deaths From Skin Diseases Differ Between Developed and Developing Countries

MedicalResearch.com: Interview Invitation
Robert Dellavalle, MD, PhD, MSPH
Chief, Dermatology Service
Denver VA Medical Center
Denver, CO 80220

Co-Authors:
Lindsay Boyers and Chante Karimkhani

Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?

Answer: This cross-sectional study of Global Burden of Disease 2010 results, investigated the rates of death from ten conditions with skin manifestations.  There were statistically significant mortality differences in developed countries compared to developing countries.  Developing countries had greater rates of death for all conditions except melanoma and basal and squamous cell carcinomas.  The greatest death rates in developing countries were due to measles, syphilis, and varicella.  Conversely, developed countries had greater rates of death of melanoma and basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

Medical Research: What was most surprising about the results?

Answer: There is a significant dichotomy between the developed and developing countries of the world regarding death from infectious and oncologic conditions with skin manifestations.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Answer: The Global Burden of Disease study provides public access to comprehensive mortality and morbidity data for 187 countries across the globe.  This database enables the detection of disease patterns across geographic and temporal boundaries.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Answer: While priority-setting decisions are affected by many factors, burden of disease is a critical metric in any prioritization process.  The diseases that impact our world populations warrant adequate allocation of research funds.  The Global Burden of Disease study can inform these prioritization efforts at local, national, and global levels.

Citation

Global mortality from conditions with skin manifestations

Lindsay N. Boyers, Chante Karimkhani, Mohsen Naghavi, David Sherwood, David J. Margolis, Roderick J. Hay, Hywel C. Williams, Luigi Naldi, Luc E. Coffeng, Martin A. Weinstock, Cory A. Dunnick, Hannah Pederson, Theo Vos, Robert P. Dellavalle

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Accepted: August 13, 2014; Published Online: October 02, 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2014.08.022

Last Updated on October 3, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD