Temporal and demographic patterns of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma incidence in Pennsylvania

Abstract

Our study analyzed temporal and demographic patterns of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) incidence in Pennsylvania and compared Pennsylvania time trends with national trends. Joinpoint and age-period-cohort analyses summarized sex- and race-specific NHL incidence time trends between 1985 and 2004. Ecologic analysis identified demographic factors associated with age-adjusted county-specific NHL incidence. NHL incidence in Pennsylvania increased annually: 1.6% and 2.5% in white and black men and 1.6% and 3.2% in white and black women. National trends were similar, except for smaller increases in white men. Diffuse lymphoma appeared to be the major contributor to the increases. NHL incidence was higher in Pennsylvania counties with greater percentages of urban residents. NHL incidence patterns in Pennsylvania were parallel to those seen nationally, with the highest rates occurring in white men and in persons residing in urban areas.

Figure 1

Joinpoint estimates of NHL incidence in the PCR and SEER registries by sex and race for persons diagnosed from 1985 to 2004 at ages 20 to 84, adjusted for age and reporting delays (EAPC values that differ significantly from zero are indicated).

Figure 2

NHL incidence (on a log scale) in the PCR and SEER registries by age group and time period for white men and women diagnosed from 1985 to 2004 at ages 20 to 84, adjusted for reporting delays. The X’s are observed values and the lines are predicted values based on an APC model with 5-year age and period intervals.

Figure 3

Joinpoint estimates of NHL incidence in the Pennsylvania and SEER registries by sex, year of diagnosis, and histologic subtype of the Working Formulation for whites diagnosed from 1985 to 2004 at ages 20 to 84, adjusted for reporting delays and age adjusted to the 2000 US standard population (EAPC values that differ significantly from zero are indicated).

Figure 4

Joinpoint estimates of NHL incidence in the PCR by sex and county for persons diagnosed from 1985 to 2004 at ages 20 to 84, adjusted for age and reporting delays (EAPC values that differ significantly from zero are indicated).