Demographic and geographic hotspots due to lymphoma-related mortality: A 21-year retrospective analysis.

Abstract

e19079 Background: About half of the blood cancers that occur each year are lymphomas, or cancers of the lymphatic system. This system - composed of lymph nodes in your neck, armpits, groin, chest, and abdomen - removes excess fluids from your body and produces immune cells. Abnormal lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that fights infection, become lymphoma cells, which multiply and collect in your lymph nodes. Over time, these cancerous cells impair your immune system. We examined these patterns in our analysis, which covered the years 1999-2020 and identified trends and discrepancies between epidemiological groups by utilizing age adjusted mortality rates (AAMR). Methods: Data was acquired from death certificates registered with CDC WONDER database between 1999 and 2020 using codes for lymphoma C81, C82, C83, C84, C85. The age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 individuals and the annual percent change (APC) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated as part of the analyses. Utilizing the Joinpoint Regression Program, parallelism was assessed and for a p<0.05, the test of parallelism was considered significant for unparalleled. Also, trends among demographic groups—race, gender, age, and urban/rural classification—were evaluated. Results: Between 1999 and 2020, around 596870 deaths were reported from lymphoma across all the age groups (APC: -2.15:95%CI: -2.34 to -1.96; p<0.01). The AAMR gradually declined from 60.2 in 1999 to 43.52 in 2020. Males had a higher AAMR than females throughout the study period. Whites had the highest overall AAMR, followed by black or African American, Asian or Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native. Non-metropolitan areas had higher AAMR than large central metropolitan areas. AAMR also varied by census region. Mid-west region had the highest overall AAMR followed by northeast, west and South which continuously declined throughout study period. AAMR were highest for 65-84 years age group, followed by 45-64 years age group and 15-44 years age group. AAMR also demonstrated variation with the location of death, with maximum number of deaths in medical facilities, followed by deaths at decedent's home, nursing homes, hospice facility and other/unknown places. Conclusions: Lymphoma-related mortality in the US showed an overall decline from 1999 to 2020, suggesting the impact of preventive measures and healthcare interventions. The significant demographic and geographic discrepancies in mortality rates underline the urgent need for targeted research and resource allocation. The healthcare burden is evident from the high inpatient mortality rates and unequal healthcare access, especially in underserved regions. Addressing these challenges requires enhanced public health strategies, equitable resource distribution, and preventive efforts to mitigate the ongoing strain on healthcare systems .