Dermatoses of the Caribbean: Burden of skin disease and associated socioeconomic status in the Caribbean.

INTRODUCTION

Dermatologic disease represents a significant burden worldwide, but the regional effect of skin disease in the Caribbean and how it relates to socioeconomic status remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to measure the burden of skin disease in the Caribbean from epidemiologic and socioeconomic standpoints.

METHODS

We selected Global Burden of Disease Study data sets to analyze disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and the annual rate of change of dermatoses between 1990 and 2017 in 18 Caribbean countries and the United States. The principal country-level economic factor used was gross domestic product per capita from the World Bank.

RESULTS

Countries with lower gross domestic product per capita had higher DALYs for dermatology-related infectious diseases, urticaria, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. Countries with higher gross domestic product per capita had higher DALYs of cutaneous neoplasms, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, and pruritus. Several Caribbean countries were among the top worldwide for annual increase in DALYs for melanoma, nonmelanoma skin cancers, bacterial skin disease, and total skin and subcutaneous diseases.

CONCLUSION

Despite promising ongoing interventions in skin disease, better support is needed in both resource-rich and -poor areas of the Caribbean. DALYs can serve as a purposeful measure for directing resources and care to improve the burden of skin disease in the Caribbean.