Incidence and trends of multiple myeloma (MM) in Brazil - 1988-2020

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a chronic hematological malignancy caused by a differentiated plasma cell disorder (Pawlyn, 2019). As a consequence of population aging, there has been an increase in incidence rates (Turesson et al 2018). In 2022, there were 187,744 new cases (Bray et al 2024). The incidence of MM in Brazil has not been estimated by the National Cancer Institute (INCA).

To analyse the incidence rates and trends of MM across states in Brazil from Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs).

Information was extracted from PBCR/INCA for the 1988-2020 period. Sociodemographic data were extracted from records of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Age-standardised incidence rates were calculated using the Segi global standard population. Trend analysis was performed using Join point Regression, version 4.7.0.0.

The highest incidence rates of MM in males were observed in the cities of Natal (Rio Grande do Norte state) and Jaú (São Paulo state) at 3.55/100,000 and 2.9/100,000, respectively. In females, rates were highest in the cities of Natal (Rio Grande do Norte state) and Aracajú (Sergipe state) at 2.66/100,000 and 2.21/100,000, respectively. Trends showed an annual increase of 10.45% in Campinas for males and 9.04% for females. Median age at diagnosis in Brazil was 65 years for both sexes, while the North region had the lowest average age at 63.2 years, and the South region the highest at 68.0 years. Porto Alegre city (Rio Grande do Sul state) had the highest average of 70.0 years for females and 67.1 for males, while Roraima had the lowest at 61.2 years for females and 54.2 for males.

In Brazil, the average age of incidence varies by geographic region, but is higher among males. Incidence rates are highest in the Northeast and Southeast regions, whereas the greatest upward trends are in the Southeast and Midwest regions.