CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKAEMIA: EPIDEMIOLOGY DATA (2002–2007)

Background Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a rare clonal neoplastic disease of hematopoietic stem cells. Epidemiology data of CML patients in Slovenia are presented. Methods Data about all new patients with CML in the period from 2002 to 2007 were obtained from all Slovenian hospitals with haematological department. Results 90 patients were studied during the period of 6 years. The incidence was 0.75/100,000 on average. 14 patients (15%) died. Incidence in male population was 4% higher as in female population. The patient population ( average age 50.6 in males and 59.1 in females at the diagnosis of CML, respectively) was distributed also according to Slovenian statistical regions. The majority of patients was identified in the chronic phase of disease (83%), being treated in recent years with imatinib ( up to 85% in 2007). Conclusions The incidence, as well as the average age of the patients with CML in Slovenia is lower compared with data from the literature. The majority of patients are identified in early stage of the disease and are treated in accordance with current guidelines.