Attenuation of the epidemic increase in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in Spain.
BACKGROUND
Attenuation of the epidemic increase in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) incidence has recently been reported in the USA and Nordic European countries. After two decades of steadily increasing NHL, this study sought to ascertain whether a similar stabilisation might have taken place in Spain in recent years.


METHODS
NHL cases were drawn from 13 population-based Spanish cancer registries with a record of at least 10 years of uninterrupted registration during the period 1975-2004. Overall and age-specific changes in incidence rates were evaluated using change-point Poisson models, which allow for accurate detection and estimation of trend changes.


RESULTS
A total of 21 335 NHL cases (11 531 male and 9804 female) were identified. Although overall age- and registry-adjusted incidence rates rose by 5.74% annually among men and 6.58% among women across the period 1975-95, a statistically significant change-point was nevertheless detected in both sexes in 1996, followed by stabilisation.


CONCLUSIONS
In Spain, NHL incidence levelled off in 1996 after a sharp increase during the 1970s and 1980s. This stabilisation is, partially at least, linked to the decrease in incidence of AIDS-related lymphomas among young adults.
Marcos-Gragera
R
R
Girona Epidemiology Unit and Cancer Registry, Department of Health, Girona, Spain. rmarcos@ico.scs.es
Pollán
M
M
Chirlaque
M D
MD
Gumà
J
J
Sanchez
M J
MJ
Garau
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D058872:Epidemics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012042:Registries; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult