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VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 4 | FOURTH QUARTER | 2011

A population-based study of the epidemiology and clinical features of adults with acute myeloid leukemia in Algeria: report on behalf of the Algerian Acute Leukemia Study Group

Mohamed Amine Bekadja,a Rose Marie Hamladji,b Meriem Belhani,c Fatima Zohra Ardjoun,d Mohand Tayeb Abad,e Hadj Touhami,f Hocine Ait-Ali,g Zahia Zouaoui,h Noureddine Sidimansour,i  Selma Hamdi,j Fatiha Grifi,k Naima Mesli,l Mahdia Saidi,m Nemra Mehalhal,n Aissa Bachiri,o Rachid Bouhass,p Yousuf Mohamed Said,q Nouri Midounr

From the aClinic of Hematology and Cell Therapy, EHU 1st November, Oran, bClinic of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Centre Pierre et Marie Curie Algiers, cClinic of Hematology, University Hospital Beni Mesous, Algiers, dClinic of Hematology, University Hospital, Hôpital Central des Armées-Ain Naadja, eClinic of Hematology, Center of Cancer, Blida, fClinic of Hematology University Hospital, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Oran, gClinic of Hematology University Hospital, Tizi Ouzou, hClinic of Hematology University Hospital Sidi Bel Abbès, iClinic of Hematology University Hospital Constantine, jClinic of Hematology University Hospital, Setif, kClinic of Hematology University Hospital,  Annaba, lClinic of Hematology University Hospital ,Tlemcen, mClinic of Hematology University Hospital, nBatnaclinic of Hematology, Etablissement Public Hospitalier, Mascara, oHMRUO, Oran, pClinic of Hematology and Cell Therapy, University Hospital Etablissement Hospitalier et Universitaire, 1st November, Oran, Algeria, qAdult Hematology-HSCT Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, rDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistic, University Hospital EHU 1st November, Oran, Algeria 


 

How to cite this article:

Bekadja MA, Hamladji RM, Belhani M, Ardjoun FZ, Abad MT, Touhami H, Ait-Ali H, Zouaoui Z, Sidimansour N, Hamdi S, Grifi F, Mesli N, Saidi M, Mehalhal N, Bachiri A, Bouhass R, Said YM, Midoun N. A population-based study of the epidemiology and clinical features of adults with acute myeloid leukemia in Algeria: report on behalf of the Algerian Acute Leukemia Study Group. Hematol Oncol Stem Cel Ther 2011;4(4):161-166

 

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In Algeria, the incidence of hematologic malignancies has been difficult to estimate for many years. Today, many hematological centers, including 14 university hospitals, have been developed in the entire north and have useful epidemiological data pertinent to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We studied the incidence of AML and its subtypes, age distribution, geographic distribution and trends in the rate of diagnosis over the last 5 years in Algeria. Secondary goals were to study trends of referral of AML cases from various regions to specific centers to assess the needs for health infrastructure and change of current practices.

 

DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective analysis of nationwide survey of all adult cases of AML (>16 years) diagnosed between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2010. 

 

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A survey form was distributed to all departments of hematology at the 15 participating centers.

 

RESULTS: The 1426 cases of AML diagnosed during the study period represented an annual incidence of 0.91/100 000 persons with a male to female (M/F) ratio of 1:16 and a median age of 45 years (range, 16-82 years). Nationally, 20% of cases AML were diagnosed in the whole western region of the country, 47% in the central and 33% in the east. There was a trend of continuous increase in the rate with age and in the rate of diagnosis over the last 5 years. The most common subtype was M2, followed by M4 and M5.

 

CONCLUSION: An overall increase in the number of AML patients diagnosed nationwide over the last five years indicates a need for additional health care resources including curative and therapy-intense strategies, such as stem cell transplant facilities to optimize outcome. The relatively younger age of patients compared to the Western countries may be due to the demographic composition of our population.