Trends in the Incidence of Leukemia in Denmark, 1943–77: An Epidemiologic Study of 14,000 Patients

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Abstract
An epidemiologic study of the total population of patients with leukemia in Denmark during 1943–77 was performed with special emphasis on time trends. The material stemmed from the national Danish Cancer Registry and was believed to be virtually complete. Of the 13,813 patients, 40% had acute leukemia; 40%, chronic lymphocytic leukemia; and 20%, chronic myeloid leukemia. Over the 35-year period, the incidence of acute leukemia increased threefold in the age groups 0-9 and 50–70+ years; whereas the increase in the age group 0–9 years climaxed in the 5-year period 1968–72, and the increase in the age group 50–70+ years was sustained. The incidence of chronic lymphocytic and chronic myeloid leukemia remained unchanged. No geographic pattern was discernible.