[Survival rates and reduction or mortality in Hodgkin's disease in relation to age of the patient (author's transl)].

Survival rates were calculated in 550 patients with Hodgkin's disease during the years 1966 to 1979 according to decade of age and were classified into three significantly different groups. The patients have been investigated according to a standard procedure since 1972 and the major part was treated intensively. The five-year-survival rate was 95% for the group under 30 years of age, 75% for the group between 31 and 60 years and 47% for the older group. For the three comparative groups during 1966 to 1971 the rates of 76%, 60% and 40% were markedly lower. Mortality in the young and middle age groups has decreased in Hamburg since 1975. Due to the continued above average death rate after the 60th year of life this development is not sufficiently noticeable in the total group. A similar tendency is shown in the GFR mortality statistics. With increased use of diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities the age of the patient becoming one of the most important prognostic features in Hodgkin's disease.