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. 2010 Mar 1:10:74.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-10-74.

Trends in the incidence and survival of multiple myeloma in South East England 1985-2004

Christine Renshaw  1 , Nicolas Ketley, Henrik Møller, Elizabeth A Davies
Affiliations

Trends in the incidence and survival of multiple myeloma in South East England 1985-2004

Christine Renshaw et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Multiple myeloma is an uncommon cancer with a poor prognosis. Its incidence is expected to increase due to ageing populations and better diagnosis, and new treatments have been developed to improve survival. Our objective was to investigate trends in the epidemiology and survival of multiple myeloma for South East England.

Methods: Data on 15,010 patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma between 1985 and 2004 was extracted from the Thames Cancer Registry database. We calculated the yearly age-standardised incidence rates for males and females and age-specific incidence rates in 10-year age groups for both sexes combined. We also explored geographical variation in incidence across primary care trusts. We then used period analysis to calculate trends in 1- and 5-year relative survival over the 15 years 1990-2004, comparing survival by sex and by age group 59 years and below versus 60 years and above. Finally, we investigated 5-year relative survival for the period 2000-2004 by socio-economic deprivation, assigning patients to quintiles of deprivation using the Income Domain of the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 based on postcode of residence.

Results: The incidence of multiple myeloma was higher in males than in females and in patients over 70, throughout the period 1985-2004. No obvious geographical pattern of incidence by primary care trust emerged. The 1- and 5-year relative survival of male and female patients increased in both age groups and was statistically significant in males aged over 60. There was a tendency for better survival in patients resident in the most affluent areas, but this did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions: The trends in incidence of multiple myeloma in males and females are similar to that reported from other western populations. Relative survival was higher for younger patients although we found significant improvements in 1-year relative survival for male patients over 60 years old. The improved survival demonstrated for patients of all ages is likely to reflect increased detection, earlier diagnosis and the introduction of new treatments. Future studies should investigate the influence of ethnicity on incidence and survival, and the effect of specific treatments on survival and quality of life.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age-standardised incidence rates for multiple myeloma, South East England 1985-2004.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age specific incidence rates for multiple myeloma, male and female combined, South East England 1985-2004.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Age-standardised incidence rates for multiple myeloma for primary care trusts in South East England, 1995-2004.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Relative survival by period of follow-up for patients with myeloma in South East England 1990-2004. 1- and 5-year estimates with 95% confidence intervals.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Period analysis of 5-year relative survival by socio-economic deprivation, South East England 2000-2004.
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