Disparities and Trends in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Mortality in Elderly Adults between 1999 and 2020

• Published in: Blood 2024-11, Vol.144, p.3758-3758
• Main Authors: Nandwani, Swamroop V, Didier, Alexander J., Fahoury, Alan, Vijendra, Divya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0006-4971
• DOI: 10.1182/blood-2024-209935

Introduction: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) has the highest incidence of all hematologic malignancies in those 65 years of age or older. More than half of all patients diagnosed with NHL are above the age of 65 with increased age being associated with an elevated risk of development. NHL tends to have a better prognosis relative to other hematologic malignancies with a 5-year survival of 72%. However, disparities are present in mortality in patients with NHL. Our aim was to evaluate for demographic and regional temporal trends in NHL mortality within the United States between 1999-2020 for those who are 65 years or older as currently no study has analyzed these trends in this population group. Methods: The CDC WONDER database was used to determine mortality statistics for patients, 65 years or older, with an underlying cause of death from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (ICD-10 codes C82.0-85.0) between 1999 and 2020. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were calculated per 100,000 deaths and were additionally stratified by demographic and geographic variables such as race (NH White, NH Black, Hispanic, NH Asian, and NH American Indian/Alaskan Native), sex, census region (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West), and population density (rural, suburban, and urban). Joinpoint regression software was used to identify temporal trends. Average annual percent change (APC) was considered statistically significant if p< 0.05. Results: Between 1999 and 2020, NHL accounted for 348,047 deaths in individuals 65 years of age or older. Over this period, the AAMR decreased by 35% going from 48 in 1999 to 31 in 2020, and there was a significant decrease in APC of -2.1(p