Outcome in elderly acute myeloid leukaemia

We reviewed the reports of 79 newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia patients admitted to our department between 1996 and 2005. Patients' characteristics and outcome were analysed. The acute myeloid leukaemia rate for all patients who received intensive chemotherapy, i.e. age > or = 60 years was 52.9%; in the age group (60-69) and > or = 70 years it was 62.5% and 44.4%, respectively. The acute myeloid leukaemia rate difference between the diagnosis periods (1996-2000) and (2001-2005) are statistically significant only in the age group (60-69) years (P = 0.018). For patients who received intensive chemotherapy and treatment other than intensive chemotherapy, the median overall survival was 9.73 and 3.6 months, respectively (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in overall survival between the age groups for the two diagnosis periods, except in patients aged > or = 80 years 3.0 and 0.63 month, respectively (P = 0.023). This study improved knowledge of characteristics and outcome of elderly acute myeloid leukaemia patients in our department.