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© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Simple Summary

This unique nationwide population-based study analyses the epidemiological trends of 24 main types of haematological malignancies (HMs), including in children, by age (Belgium, 2004–2018). Particularly in the older population, increased incidence and survival are likely explained by the lagged spread of diagnostic and therapeutic innovations over the last two decades. This “real-world” study is useful to better monitor the impact of therapeutic changes in HMs at the population level.

Abstract

(1) Background: Haematological malignancies (HMs) represent a heterogeneous group of mostly rare cancers that differ in pathophysiology, incidence, and outcome. (2) Methods: Our study aims to understand the epidemiological situation and trends of 24 main types of HMs in Belgium over a 15-year period, with a focus on the impact of age. Age-standardised incidence, average annual percentage change (AAPC), 5- and 10-year relative survival (RS) and RS trends were estimated for all HMs (N = 94,415) diagnosed between 2004 and 2018. (3) Results: Incidence rates of HM increased, mainly in the 70+ age group (AAPC: 3%). RS varied by age and HM type. For each HM type, outcome decreased with age. The greatest decrease with age in 5-year RS is observed for aggressive HM, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and Burkitt lymphoma, from 67%, 90%, and 97% below 20 years, to 2%, 12%, and 16% above 80 years of age, respectively. The moderate improvement in 5-year RS over the 2004–2018 period for all HMs, of +5 percentage point (pp), masks highly heterogenous outcomes by HM type and age group. The most impressive improvements are observed in the 80+ group: +45, +33, +28, and +16 pp for Hodgkin lymphoma, immunoproliferative disorders, follicular lymphoma, and chronic myeloid leukaemia, respectively. (4) Conclusions: The increasing incidence and survival over the 2004–2018 period are likely explained by diagnostic and therapeutic innovations, which have spread to populations not targeted by clinical trials, especially older adults. This real-world population-based study highlights entities that need significant improvement, such as AML.

Details

Title
Epidemiological Trends of Haematological Malignancies in Belgium 2004–2018: Older Patients Show the Greatest Improvement in Survival
Author
Henau, Kris; Tambuyzer, Tim; Bart Van Gool  VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Liesbet Van Eycken; Poirel, Hélène A
First page
4388
Publication year
2023
Publication date
2023
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20726694
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2862148596
Copyright
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.