Clinical diagnosis of actinic keratosis identifies an elderly population at high risk of developing skin cancer

BACKGROUND. Development of actinic keratoses (AK) involves some of the same processes as nonmelanoma skin cancer and may serve as a marker for overall increased risk of skin cancer. OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to examine the risk of developing skin cancer in an elderly population with and without AK. METHODS. This was a retrospective observational study. Data from the 1992-1998 Medicare Current Beneficiary Study were used in the analyses. RESULTS. Multivariate analysis showed that the risk (odds ratio [OR]) of developing nonmelanoma or melanoma was increased more than sixfold (p <=.0001) in patients with AK. An increased risk of skin cancer was found in whites (OR 4.3; p <=.01) and increased age by year (OR 1.04; p <=.01). Women were less likely to develop skin cancer (OR 0.58; p <=.01). CONCLUSION. Using data from a nationally representive sample of the Medicare population, this study demonstrates that elders with AK are a population at high risk of developing cutaneous cancer.