The Pattern of Leukaemias among Adults in Jos, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Leukaemias are haemopoietic malignancies classified into acute and chronic. Each of these two main groups is further divided into lymphoid or myeloid leukaemia depending on the cell of origin. Acute leukaemias are common in childhood while the chronic entities dominate the adult life. Aim: This study aimed to determine the pattern of leukaemia cases seen in our setting. Methods: All leukaemia cases seen in the Jos University Teaching Hospital, (JUTH), Jos: North Central Nigeria, from the year 2001 to 2016 were studied. Sociodemographic clinical and laboratory data of the patients were obtained from their case files. Data were analyzed using epi info statistical software. Results: Two hundred and thirty one (231) adults were diagnosed of leukaemia over the study period, 120 (51.95%) males and 48.05% females, aged 18 and 85 years (mean 44.0 ± 17.2). Distribution leukaemia cases based on patient’s age; showed peaks at age 30, 50 70 years. The lowest annual leukaemia capture were the years 2001 and 2010 while the highest rate of diagnosis was in 2014. The chronic and acute were respectively diagnosed in 64.1% and 35.9% of studied subjects. The frequency of individual cases was; CLL (32.5%), CML (31.6%), AML (19.0%) and ALL (16.9%). Acute myeloblastic, lymphoblastic and chronic myelocytic leukaemia showed overall increase with increasing patient’s age over twelve years. The rate of diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia however tended to decline from a recorded peak in 2013. Leakaemia in adults was highest in the age group 20-40 years, followed by aged 40-60, 60-80, 18-20 years and least in 80-100 years respectively. Conclusion: Acute leukaemias may be commoner in adults below 40 years while the chronic disorders are commoner in those above 40 years with the age of 30, 50 and 70 years at increased risk.