OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted with the aim to investigate the incidence and mortality of leukemia and their association with the Human Development Index (HDI) around the world in 2012.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was an ecologic study in the world to assess the correlation between Age-Standardized Incidence Rate (ASIR) and Age Standardized Mortality Rate (ASMR) of leukemia with HDI and its details that include: life expectancy at birth, Mean years of schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. ASIR and ASMR of leukemia expressed per 100,000 people. Statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS (Version 15.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA.)
RESULTS: ASIR and ASMR of leukemia were 4.7 and 3.4 per 100,000 people, respectively. Countries with the highest ASIR were Mauritius (12), Cyprus (9.5), Canada (9.5), Ireland (9.4), and Australia (9.4). Also, countries with the highest ASMR were State of Palestine (7.7), Iraq (6.5), Mauritius (6), Syrian Arab Republic (5.7), and Ethiopia (5.4). There was a statistical significant and positive correlation between HDI and ASIR of leukemia (r = 0.74, p ≤0.001), and HDI and ASMR of leukemia (r = 0.369, p ≤0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The highest incidence of leukemia occurred in countries with high and very high HDI and the highest mortality rate in countries with very high and moderate HDI. There was a significant positive correlation between ASIR and ASMR of leukemia with the HDI and its dimensions.