Global, national, and regional burden of acute myeloid leukemia among 60-89 years-old individuals: insights from a study covering the period 1990 to 2019.

Background: Our study examined the global, national, and regional trends in the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with older people's acute myeloid leukemia (AML) over a 30 years period. AML, which predominantly affects individuals aged 60-89, is known for its severity and unfavorable prognosis. By providing insights into the growing burden of AML, our research highlights the urgent need for effective interventions and support at various levels.

Methods: In this study, we analyzed older people with AML aged 60-89 using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database for 2019. Our goal was to assess trends and characteristics by examining the incidence rate, mortality rate, DALYs, and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). We aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the disease's trajectory and development.

Results: In 2019, the older age group of 60 to 89 years reported 61,559 new cases of AML, with the corresponding number of deaths being 53,620, and the estimated DALYs standing at 990,656. Over the last 30 years, the incidence rate of AML in this age bracket increased by 1.67 per 100,000 people, the mortality rate rose by 1.57 per 100,000 people, and the rate of DALYs, indicative of disease burden, climbed by 1.42 per 100,000 people. High Socio-demographic Index (SDI) regions, particularly high-income North America and Australia, had the highest incidence rates. Germany had the highest incidence rate among the 204 countries analyzed, while Monaco reported the highest mortality and DALY rates. Smoking, high body mass index, occupational exposure to benzene, and formaldehyde were identified as significant risk factors associated with mortality from older people with AML in 2019.

Conclusion: Our study showed that the incidence, mortality, and DALY rates of AML in the older population were strongly correlated with the SDI, and these rates have been steadily increasing. This had become an increasingly serious global health issue, particularly in areas with a high SDI. We highlighted the urgency to focus more on this disease and called for the prompt implementation of appropriate preventive and control measures.