title: Oncohematological diseases in the Vale do Paraíba, State of São Paulo: demographic aspects, prevalences and incidences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Based on the necessity of detailed information that supports effective strategies to improve cancer outcomes in the different regions of Brazil, the aims of this study were to report demographic aspects and to calculate the prevalence and incidence rates of oncohematological diseases in the region of Vale do Paraíba.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a multicentric prospective study carried out from October 2009 to March 2010. A total of 500 over 19-year-old patients were enrolled. Data such as type of healthcare insurance, gender, age, ethnic classification, place of residence, schooling, income, body mass index, new cases and the period between the first symptoms and a definite diagnosis were collected. The prevalence and incidence rates were calculated according to an estimated number of 1,319,800 inhabitants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence and incidence rates per 100,000 inhabitants in the period of six months were, respectively: acute myeloid leukemia 1.5 and 0.7; acute lymphoblastic leukemia 0.5 and 0.1; chronic lymphocytic leukemia 2.4 and 0.4; chronic myeloid leukemia 6.2 and 0.8; Hodgkin's lymphoma 2.9 and 0.9; non-Hodgkin lymphoma 9.8 and 4.3; multiple myeloma 5.7 and 0.7; myelodysplastic syndromes 2.1 and 0.2 and myeloproliferative syndromes 5.1 and 0.3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Giving the paucity of data in this field of investigation, our data may be useful for comparisons with those of other regions of Brazil and will assist in the implementation of treatment programs of oncohematological diseases in this region.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Onco-hematologia do Vale do Paraíba - GOHV, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Callera
authors.forename: Alvaro Azevedo Vital
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Brasil
authors.forename: Anna Raquel de Lima
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Casali
authors.forename: Carla Cecília
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Mulin
authors.forename: Evandro Secchi
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Maira de Assis
authors.initials: Mde A
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Thais Domitila Freire
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Vieira
keywords: Brazil/epidemiology; Health programs and plans; Hematological neoplasms/epidemiology; Hodgkin's disease; Lymphoma, non-Hodgkin