Multiple myeloma in Brazil: an assessment of Global Burden Disease study 2019

Abstract

Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematological cancer; it accounts for approximately 10% of all hematologic malignancies and 1%-2% of all cancer diagnoses. The objective was to describe and evaluate trends of morbidity, mortality, and disease burden in Brazil from 1990 to 2019. Global Burden of Disease data was assessed to describe age-standardized (+40 years) incidence, prevalence, mortality, Disability-Adjusted Life-Years and its components in Brazil and across the 27 federative units according to sex and socio-demographic index quintiles. Trends were estimated using Joinpoint regression and expressed as average annual percentage changes. Ascending trends of the measures were found for Brazil and its federative units for both sexes. Mortality increased to a lesser extent than incidence (1.3% vs. 1.5% - men; 1.1% vs. 0.9% - women), resulting in higher rising trends in prevalence for both sexes. All the measures were significantly higher in high- and high-middle socio-demographic quintiles, however; higher ascending trends was found in lower socio-demographic quintiles. Aging, level of development, diagnosis and treatment appear to explain the ascending multiple myeloma measures in Brazil and their differences among the federative units.