incidence of acute leukaemia
Last reviewed 12/2021
Acute leukaemia is a rare condition with an observed incidence of 4 per 100 000 of the population per year. The disease pattern varies with sub-type:
- acute lymphoblastic leukaemia:
- accounts for 80% of cases of acute leukaemia in children
- the incidence peaks in children, decreases in adolescence, but increases again beyond the age of 50 years
- it accounts for 20% of all cases of leukaemia
- is more common in whites than blacks
- is slightly more common in boys than girls
- acute myeloid leukaemia:
- rare in children
- accounts for 80% of all acute leukaemias
Overall, there is a marked increase in the incidence of acute leukaemia in the elderly.