Incidence and survival of multiple myeloma: a population-based study of 10 524 patients diagnosed 1982–2017

Abstract

Population‐based studies from high‐quality nationwide cancer registries provide an important alternative to clinical trials in the assessment of the impact of modern myeloma treatment. Based on data from the Cancer Registry of Norway, we investigated trends in incidence and relative survival (RS) for 10 524 patients in three age groups diagnosed between 1982 and 2017. Nationwide myeloma drug consumption statistics were obtained from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Patients aged <65 years had a steady increase in both 5‐ and 10‐year RS across all calendar periods from 1982. For patients aged 65–79 years, RS was stable until the calendar period 1998–2002, followed by an improvement in both 5‐ and 10‐year RS. The 5‐year RS for patients aged ≥80 years also increased significantly between the first and the last calendar period. In conclusion, we demonstrate a significant improvement in 5‐year RS in all age groups. Improved RS in patients aged ≥80 years at the time of diagnosis is only rarely described in other population‐based studies. For patients aged ≥65 years, the improvement in RS coincides with the introduction of modern drugs, whereas patients aged <65 years had an ongoing improvement before the introduction of autologous stem‐cell transplant.