Posters
Presenting Author Academic/Professional Position
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 1)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 2)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 3)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 4)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 5)
Faculty
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Discipline Track
Community/Public Health
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Melanoma, a serious skin cancer, has varied demographic, geographic, and genetic influences on diagnosis and survival. Understanding the factors contributing to age at diagnosis and survival disparities can guide public health strategies and interventions. This study examines data from the Texas Cancer Registry to assess the age of melanoma diagnosis and associated differences between individuals in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and other counties in Texas, focusing on Hispanic and Non-Hispanic populations.
Methodology: Using data from the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) spanning 1995-2019, this analysis included patients categorized into two geographic groups: the RGV (Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr, and Willacy counties) and other counties in Texas. Data on age at diagnosis and demographic variables such as ethnicity (Spanish-Hispanic-Latino vs. Non-Spanish-Hispanic-Latino) were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, including mean, median, and standard deviation, were calculated for age at diagnosis. Independent t-tests were performed to compare age at diagnosis between RGV and other counties for each ethnic group. Cohen's d was calculated to determine the effect size, indicating the magnitude of differences.
Results: The mean age at diagnosis was notably higher in the RGV for both Non-Spanish-Hispanic-Latino (mean = 69.6 years, SD = 13.5) and Spanish-Hispanic-Latino (mean = 61.3 years, SD = 18.6) populations, compared to their counterparts in other counties (Non-Spanish-Hispanic-Latino: mean = 60.6 years, SD = 16.8; Spanish-Hispanic-Latino: mean = 56.4 years, SD = 18.1). Median ages reflected similar patterns, with RGV patients consistently diagnosed later in life.
T-tests revealed significant differences in age at diagnosis between the RGV and other counties for both ethnic groups. For Non-Spanish-Hispanic-Latino individuals, the t-statistic was 20.78 (π < 0.001), with a medium effect size (Cohen's d = 0.54). For Spanish-Hispanic-Latino individuals, the t-statistic was 6.51 (π < 0.001), with a small effect size (Cohen's d = 0.27). These results suggest that the geographic location, significantly impacts the age at diagnosis, with older ages observed in the RGV.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that individuals in the RGV, regardless of Hispanic ethnicity, are diagnosed with melanoma at older ages compared to those in other counties. While the differences were statistically significant, the effect sizes varied by ethnicity, being more pronounced in Non-Spanish-Hispanic-Latino individuals. These patterns could reflect disparities in healthcare access, differences in public awareness or screening practices, or underlying environmental or genetic factors specific to the RGV.
Targeted interventions, such as enhancing melanoma screening accessibility and education in the RGV, are critical to addressing these disparities. Future research should investigate the socio-environmental and healthcare factors contributing to these differences and explore strategies to improve early detection and outcomes in underserved regions.
Recommended Citation
Quailes, Natasha N.; Marupudi, Smaran; Arellano Villanueva, Elias; Samaie, Olivia; Phillip, Angel; Hensley, Jared; Villegas, Maria; and Gadad, Bharathi, "Geographic and Ethnic Disparities in Melanoma Diagnosis Age: A Comparative Study of the Rio Grande Valley and Other Texas Counties" (2025). Research Symposium. 115.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2025/posters/115
Included in
Geographic and Ethnic Disparities in Melanoma Diagnosis Age: A Comparative Study of the Rio Grande Valley and Other Texas Counties
Background: Melanoma, a serious skin cancer, has varied demographic, geographic, and genetic influences on diagnosis and survival. Understanding the factors contributing to age at diagnosis and survival disparities can guide public health strategies and interventions. This study examines data from the Texas Cancer Registry to assess the age of melanoma diagnosis and associated differences between individuals in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and other counties in Texas, focusing on Hispanic and Non-Hispanic populations.
Methodology: Using data from the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) spanning 1995-2019, this analysis included patients categorized into two geographic groups: the RGV (Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr, and Willacy counties) and other counties in Texas. Data on age at diagnosis and demographic variables such as ethnicity (Spanish-Hispanic-Latino vs. Non-Spanish-Hispanic-Latino) were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, including mean, median, and standard deviation, were calculated for age at diagnosis. Independent t-tests were performed to compare age at diagnosis between RGV and other counties for each ethnic group. Cohen's d was calculated to determine the effect size, indicating the magnitude of differences.
Results: The mean age at diagnosis was notably higher in the RGV for both Non-Spanish-Hispanic-Latino (mean = 69.6 years, SD = 13.5) and Spanish-Hispanic-Latino (mean = 61.3 years, SD = 18.6) populations, compared to their counterparts in other counties (Non-Spanish-Hispanic-Latino: mean = 60.6 years, SD = 16.8; Spanish-Hispanic-Latino: mean = 56.4 years, SD = 18.1). Median ages reflected similar patterns, with RGV patients consistently diagnosed later in life.
T-tests revealed significant differences in age at diagnosis between the RGV and other counties for both ethnic groups. For Non-Spanish-Hispanic-Latino individuals, the t-statistic was 20.78 (π < 0.001), with a medium effect size (Cohen's d = 0.54). For Spanish-Hispanic-Latino individuals, the t-statistic was 6.51 (π < 0.001), with a small effect size (Cohen's d = 0.27). These results suggest that the geographic location, significantly impacts the age at diagnosis, with older ages observed in the RGV.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that individuals in the RGV, regardless of Hispanic ethnicity, are diagnosed with melanoma at older ages compared to those in other counties. While the differences were statistically significant, the effect sizes varied by ethnicity, being more pronounced in Non-Spanish-Hispanic-Latino individuals. These patterns could reflect disparities in healthcare access, differences in public awareness or screening practices, or underlying environmental or genetic factors specific to the RGV.
Targeted interventions, such as enhancing melanoma screening accessibility and education in the RGV, are critical to addressing these disparities. Future research should investigate the socio-environmental and healthcare factors contributing to these differences and explore strategies to improve early detection and outcomes in underserved regions.
