title: Incidence and mortality trends of leukemia and lymphoma in Croatia, 1988-2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the time trends of leukemia and lymphoma in Croatia from 1988-2009, compare them with trends in other populations, and identify possible changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data sources were the Croatian National Cancer Registry for incidence data, Croatian Bureau of Statistics for the numbers of deaths, and United Nations population estimates. Joinpoint regression analysis using the age-standardized rates was used to analyze incidence and mortality trends.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia incidence did not significantly change. Acute myeloid leukemia incidence significantly increased in women, with estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of 2.6% during the whole period, and in men since 1998, with EAPC of 3.2%. Chronic myeloid leukemia incidence significantly decreased in women (EAPC -3.7%) and remained stable in men. Mortality rates were stable for both lymphoid and myeloid leukemia in both sexes. Hodgkin lymphoma non-significantly increased in incidence and significantly decreased in mortality (EAPCs of -5.6% in men and -3.7% in women). Non-Hodgkin lymphoma significantly increased in incidence in women (EAPC 3.2%) and non-significantly in men and in mortality in both men (EAPC 1.6%) and women (EAPC 1.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While Croatia had similar leukemia and lymphoma incidence trends as the other countries, the mortality trends were less favorable than in Western Europe. The lack of declines of leukemia incidence and non-Hodgkin lymphoma mortality could be attributed to late introduction of optimal therapies. As currently the most up-to-date diagnostics and treatments are available and covered by health insurance, we expect more favorable trends in the future.
authors.affiliation: Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Rockefellerova 7, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Ozren
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jaksić
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kulis
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Batinjan
authors.forename: Ariana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Znaor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult