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Trends of incidence, mortality and survival of multiple myeloma in Spain. A twenty-three-year population-based study

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Abstract

Background

Despite major advances, multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease. Epidemiological data from high-quality population-based registries are needed to understand the heterogeneous landscape of the disease.

Methods

Incidence, mortality and survival in multiple myeloma were comprehensively analyzed in the Girona and Granada population-based cancer registries, over a 23-year study (1994–2016), divided into three periods (1994–2001, 2002–2009 and 2010–2016). Joinpoint regression analysis was used to estimate the annual percentage change in incidence and mortality. Age-standardized net survival was calculated with the Pohar–Perme method.

Results

1957 myeloma patients were included in the study, with a median age of 72 years. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates decreased over time in both sexes and both rates were higher in males. Five-year age-standardized net survival by period was 27.4% (1994–2001), 38.8% (2002–2009), and 47.4% (2010–2016). Survival improved for all age groups: 32.4%, 74.1% and 78.5% for patients aged 15–49; 27.5%, 44.6%, and 58.5% for those aged 50–69; finally, 24.8%, 25.5%, and 26.3% for the older group.

Conclusion

Incidence remained overall stable throughout the study, with only a small increase for men. Mortality was progressively decreasing in both sexes. Both incidence and mortality were higher in men. Age plays a critical role in survival, with impressive improvement in patients younger than 70 years, but only a minor benefit in those older than 70.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge with gratitude to Eva Ríos Sánchez the English revision of the manuscript. This paper is part of the doctoral thesis of Daysi Yoe-Ling Chang Chang, first author of the paper, in the context of the Inter-University Health Sciences Doctoral Program offered jointly by the University of Sevilla, the University of Jaen, and the Andalusian School of Public Health.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Granada Cancer Registry, Andalusian School of Public Health, Granada, Spain

    D-Y-L Chang-Chan, M. Rodríguez Barranco, D. Redondo-Sánchez & M. J. Sánchez

  2. Monoclonal Gammopathies Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Hematology, University Hospital Virgen de Las Nieves, Granada, Spain

    R. Ríos-Tamayo

  3. Genomic Oncology Area, GENYO, PTS, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research: Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, Granada, Spain

    R. Ríos-Tamayo

  4. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red: Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain

    R. Ríos-Tamayo, M. Rodríguez Barranco, D. Redondo-Sánchez, R. Marcos-Gragera & M. J. Sánchez

  5. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (Ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain

    R. Ríos-Tamayo, M. Rodríguez Barranco, D. Redondo-Sánchez & M. J. Sánchez

  6. Department of Hematology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona, Spain

    Y. González

  7. Epidemiology Unit and Girona Cancer Registry, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain

    R. Marcos-Gragera

  8. Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS), University of Girona, Girona, Spain

    R. Marcos-Gragera

  9. Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Girona, Spain

    R. Marcos-Gragera

  10. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

    M. J. Sánchez

Authors
  1. D-Y-L Chang-Chan
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  2. R. Ríos-Tamayo
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  3. M. Rodríguez Barranco
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  4. D. Redondo-Sánchez
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  5. Y. González
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  6. R. Marcos-Gragera
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  7. M. J. Sánchez
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Contributions

All authors provided substantial contributions in the acquisition, analysis or interpretation of data. All authors revised the article at any stage and finally approved the version to be published.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Ríos-Tamayo.

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Conflicts of interest

R.R.-T has received research support and honoraria as speaking fee from Amgen, Celgene, Janssen and Takeda. The rest of the authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Chang-Chan, DYL., Ríos-Tamayo, R., Rodríguez Barranco, M. et al. Trends of incidence, mortality and survival of multiple myeloma in Spain. A twenty-three-year population-based study. Clin Transl Oncol 23, 1429–1439 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-020-02541-1

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