title: The incidence and survival of acute de novo leukemias in Estonia and in a well-defined region of western Sweden during 1997-2001: a survey of patients aged 16-64 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a recent retrospective study, we investigated the incidence and survival of de novo acute leukemia (AL) patients aged 16-64 years over three 5-year periods (1982-1996) in Estonia and in the Western Swedish Health Care Region. The incidence rates were similar in the two countries, but the survival data were highly different. Thus, relative survival at 5 years for de novo AL patients in Estonia was virtually negligible, whereas the corresponding figures for the Swedish patients increased from 20.3 to 38.9% during the study period.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively compare the results for incidence and outcome of de novo AL between the two countries during 1997-2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence rates for de novo AL were lower in Estonia than in western Sweden but not significantly so. However, the survival for de novo AL patients in Estonia had improved considerably, with the relative survival at 5 years being 16.4%; such improvement was particularly seen in acute myeloid leukemia patients. For the Swedish patients, no change in survival was recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Estonia, a remarkable improvement in outcome for young de novo AL patients was seen after 1996. Nevertheless, relative survival for the Estonian patients had still not reached the levels found in the Swedish cohort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine/Hematology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lovisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wennström
authors.forename: Soodabeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Safai-Kutti
authors.forename: Dick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stockelberg
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holmberg
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palk
authors.forename: Mirja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varik
authors.forename: Iige
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Viigimaa
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vaht
authors.forename: Ene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luik
authors.forename: Hele
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Everaus
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kutti
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult