Epidemiology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Chilean and Amerindian population in Chile

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Epidemiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in Western countries.
• Understanding the incidence and characteristics of CLL in diverse populations is crucial for global health insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and clinical presentation of CLL in Chile.
• To compare CLL features between the general Chilean population and the Amerindian population.
• To analyze survival outcomes in Chilean CLL patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 912 CLL patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2019 in Chile.
• Calculation of incidence rates per 100,000 person-years for the general and Amerindian populations.
• Assessment of clinical features, Rai classification, Matutes score, and overall survival (OS).

Main Results:

• An overall incidence of 1.17/100,000 person-years in Chile, with significantly lower incidence (0.09/100,000) in the Amerindian population.
• Median age at diagnosis was 73 years; 48% had low Rai stage disease.
• Five-year OS was 56%, with worse survival observed in men, older patients, and those with high-risk disease or increased prolymphocytes.
• Chilean CLL patients exhibited worse OS compared to European cohorts, despite similar clinical presentations.

Conclusions:

• CLL incidence in Chile is low, and survival outcomes are poorer than in European countries.
• CLL is exceptionally rare in the Chilean Amerindian population.
• Further research is needed to understand the disparities in CLL incidence and outcomes between different ethnic groups.