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Medical Student
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Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Melanoma, a serious skin cancer with substantial morbidity, is influenced by demographic, geographic, and healthcare access factors. South Texas' Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) region—including Starr, Willacy, Cameron, and Hidalgo counties—has a predominantly Hispanic population facing unique barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment. This study investigates the primary causes of death among melanoma patients in the LRGV compared to other Texas regions, aiming to uncover regional disparities that could guide public health interventions.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using data from the Texas Cancer Registry (1995-2019). Patients were grouped into two cohorts: Group 1 (LRGV counties) and Group 2 (non-LRGV Texas counties). Mortality rates and cause of death (ICD-10 classifications) were analyzed. Descriptive statistics evaluated survival status at the last contact, and chi-squared tests were used to assess differences in mortality patterns. Cohen's d was calculated to assess effect sizes.
Results: Among 78,647 patients, 39.7% had recorded deaths. Group 1 (LRGV) had a significantly lower survival rate (45.2% alive at last contact) compared to Group 2 (60.7%). Melanoma-related deaths (ICD-10: C439) accounted for 16.9% of deaths in the LRGV compared to 12.8% in non-LRGV regions (p = 1.08 × 10⁻⁶). The effect size (Cohen's d = 0.21) indicated a small but meaningful difference in mortality rates. Additionally, cardiovascular-related deaths (ICD-10: I219, I251) and deaths from other cancers contributed to overall mortality patterns but remained less frequent than melanoma-related deaths.
Conclusion: The LRGV exhibits higher rates of melanoma-related mortality compared to other Texas regions, reflecting significant regional health disparities. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health efforts to improve early detection, increase access to dermatologic care, and address barriers to timely melanoma diagnosis and treatment. Future research should explore the socio-environmental and healthcare access factors driving these disparities and inform culturally tailored health initiatives to reduce mortality rates in South Texas.
Recommended Citation
Hensley, Jared; Marupudi, Smaran; Penmetcha, Neharika; Martin, Blake C.; Quailes, Natasha; Arellano Villanueva, Elias; and Villegas, Maria, "Regional Disparities in Melanoma Mortality: A Study of the Lower Rio Grande Valley in South Texas" (2025). Research Symposium. 72.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2025/posters/72
Included in
Regional Disparities in Melanoma Mortality: A Study of the Lower Rio Grande Valley in South Texas
Background: Melanoma, a serious skin cancer with substantial morbidity, is influenced by demographic, geographic, and healthcare access factors. South Texas' Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) region—including Starr, Willacy, Cameron, and Hidalgo counties—has a predominantly Hispanic population facing unique barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment. This study investigates the primary causes of death among melanoma patients in the LRGV compared to other Texas regions, aiming to uncover regional disparities that could guide public health interventions.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using data from the Texas Cancer Registry (1995-2019). Patients were grouped into two cohorts: Group 1 (LRGV counties) and Group 2 (non-LRGV Texas counties). Mortality rates and cause of death (ICD-10 classifications) were analyzed. Descriptive statistics evaluated survival status at the last contact, and chi-squared tests were used to assess differences in mortality patterns. Cohen's d was calculated to assess effect sizes.
Results: Among 78,647 patients, 39.7% had recorded deaths. Group 1 (LRGV) had a significantly lower survival rate (45.2% alive at last contact) compared to Group 2 (60.7%). Melanoma-related deaths (ICD-10: C439) accounted for 16.9% of deaths in the LRGV compared to 12.8% in non-LRGV regions (p = 1.08 × 10⁻⁶). The effect size (Cohen's d = 0.21) indicated a small but meaningful difference in mortality rates. Additionally, cardiovascular-related deaths (ICD-10: I219, I251) and deaths from other cancers contributed to overall mortality patterns but remained less frequent than melanoma-related deaths.
Conclusion: The LRGV exhibits higher rates of melanoma-related mortality compared to other Texas regions, reflecting significant regional health disparities. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health efforts to improve early detection, increase access to dermatologic care, and address barriers to timely melanoma diagnosis and treatment. Future research should explore the socio-environmental and healthcare access factors driving these disparities and inform culturally tailored health initiatives to reduce mortality rates in South Texas.
