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Childhood leukaemia incidence and trends in a Middle Eastern country during 1980–2014: a population-based study

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Abstract

Background

This retrospective cohort study examines the trends in childhood leukaemia age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) (per million person-years) using cases which were diagnosed at age 0–19 years from 1980 to 2014 and recorded in the Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC) registry.

Methods

Childhood leukaemia age-specific incidence rates overall and by sub-cohorts defined by age (0–4, 5–9, 10–14, and 15–19 years), sex (male, female) and nationality (Kuwaiti, non-Kuwaiti) were computed and age-standardized. Joinpoint regression models were used to evaluate trends in childhood leukaemia ASIRs. Average annual percent change (AAPC) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to interpret the observed trends.

Results

During the study period, 1077 childhood leukaemia cases of 32.3 million person-years were diagnosed. From 1980 to 2014, the average annual childhood leukaemia ASIR was 53.1 (95% CI 20.9, 85.2). Overall childhood leukaemia ASIRs significantly decreased on average by 6.8% per year (AAPC =  −6.8; 95% CI −12.1, −1.1; p = 0.02) from 1980 to 1993, but a marginally significant increase in ASIRs from 1993 to 2014 was recorded (AAPC = 2.5; 95% CI −0.5, 5.5; p = 0.10). During the entire period, childhood leukaemia ASIRs trends significantly (p < 0.05) increased among 6 of 16 sub-cohorts, which was more pronounced among females and 10–14-year-old children.

Conclusions

Overall, ASIRs significantly increased from 1993 to 2014, which specifically seems to be driven by an increase in ASIRs among females and 10–14 -year-old children. These increasing trends underscore the potential involvement of a range of exposures. Future studies on unravelling such factors may help develop preventive measures to minimize childhood leukaemia risk in this and similar settings in the region.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the staff of Kuwait Cancer Control Center registry for their help.

Funding

This study did not receive any specific funding from any source.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kuwait, PO Box 24923, 13110, Safat, Kuwait

    Saeed Akhtar

  2. Department of Surgery, Farwaniya Hospital, PO Box 33978, 7346, Al Rawdha, Kuwait

    Jarrah Al-Abkal

  3. Department of Surgery, Al-Adan Hospital, PO Box 288, 44403, Sabah Al Salem, Kuwait

    Ahmad Al-Shammari

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  1. Saeed Akhtar
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  2. Jarrah Al-Abkal
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  3. Ahmad Al-Shammari
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Correspondence to Saeed Akhtar.

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Akhtar, S., Al-Abkal, J. & Al-Shammari, A. Childhood leukaemia incidence and trends in a Middle Eastern country during 1980–2014: a population-based study. Cancer Causes Control 31, 231–240 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-020-01267-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-020-01267-3

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