LEUKEMIA INCIDENCE RATES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Abstract

Leukemia is one of the most expected malignant neoplasms, which could be associated with radiation impact. There have been no epidemiological studies, which described population levels of leukaemia in Belarus for the long time after Chernobyl disaster. Thus the aim of this study was to estimate leukaemia rates in Belarus for the 1991- 2014. Data of Belorussian Cancer Registry were analyzed by calculation of crude rates (CR), age-specific rates (AsR) and age standardized rates (ASR). Trend analysis was realized by investigation of average annual percentage change (APC). There were found 23 683 cases of leukemia (C91-C95) in Belarus for 1991-2014. AsR are higher in males than females and 0-4 years old children have higher risk of leukaemia (acute forms mainly) than 5-44 years old people. After 45 years old risk of leukaemia is growing rapidly (chronic forms mainly). Trends analysis have not shown any significant growth of both crude and standardized incidence rates (APC is about 1%) CR is higher for rural than urban residents, but ASR contrary is higher for urban than rural, that could be explained by different age structure of these populations. There have been no significant differences in ASR by areas of the Belarus, especially in highly contaminated areas of Belarus. Obtained data can be used in further epidemiological studies of leukaemia risk in the groups of high radiation exposure.