Multiple myeloma - UK incidence statistics

This page presents multiple myeloma incidence statistics including by age and sex and trends over time. Prevalence data is also presented. The ICD code for multiple myeloma is ICD-10 C90.

By age and sex
Trends over time

Prevalence

A reliable classification system for haematological malignancies, including the different types of myeloma, was developed and agreed by oncologists and pathologists in 20011 and this was updated in 2008.2 This is the World Health Organisation (WHO) classification.

Myeloma is a type of cancer arising from plasma cells. There are two main types: multiple myeloma and plasmacytoma. Multiple myeloma (also called plasma cell myeloma) develops at several sites around the body in the bone marrow, including the pelvis, spine and ribcage. It accounts for the vast majority (around nine out of ten) of all myelomas.

Plasmacytoma develops in only one part of the body, most commonly in the bone marrow (solitary bone plasmacytoma), but also in soft tissue (solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma). Patients with solitary bone plasmacytoma may go on to develop multiple myeloma later in life. Myeloma can either be indolent (also known as ‘smouldering myeloma’) or active.

In 2008 there were 4,516 newly diagnosed cases of multiple myeloma in the UK (Table 1.1).3-6

Table 1.1: Multiple Myeloma (C90), Number of New Cases, Crude and European Age-Standardised (AS) Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2008

		England	Wales	Scotland	Northern Ireland	United Kingdom
Male	Cases	2,089	125	202	64	2,480
	Crude Rate	8.2	8.6	8.1	7.3	8.2
	AS Rate	6.6	6.2	6.5	6.7	6.5
	AS Rate - 95% LCL*	6.3	5.1	5.6	5.0	6.3
	AS Rate - 95% UCL*	6.8	7.3	7.4	8.3	6.8
Female	Cases	1,716	94	182	44	2,036
	Crude Rate	6.6	6.1	6.8	4.9	6.5
	AS Rate	4.4	3.7	4.3	3.5	4.3
	AS Rate - 95% LCL*	4.2	3.0	3.7	2.5	4.2
	AS Rate - 95% UCL*	4.6	4.5	4.9	4.6	4.5
Persons	Cases	3,805	219	384	108	4,516
	Crude Rate	7.4	7.3	7.4	6.1	7.4
	AS Rate	5.4	4.9	5.3	4.9	5.3
	AS Rate - 95% LCL*	5.2	4.2	4.8	4.0	5.2
	AS Rate - 95% UCL*	5.6	5.5	5.8	5.8	5.5

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*95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits around the AS Rate

The incidence of multiple myeloma increases with age in both sexes (Figure 1.1), reaching a peak in men aged 85+ (58 per 100,000) and in women aged 80-84 (34 per 100,000).3-6 More than seven out of ten (72%) multiple myeloma cases occur in people aged 65 years or over.

Figure 1.1: Multiple Myeloma (C90), Average Number of New Cases per Year and Age-Specific Incidence Rates, UK, 2006-2008

cases_crude_mmyeloma1.swf

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The lifetime risk for men of being diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer in 2008 in the UK is estimated to be 1 in 124 and for women 1 in 160. These were done using the "Current Probability" method.7,8

section updated 28/11/11

Between the mid-1970s and the late 1990's, the age-standardised incidence rates for multiple myeloma in Britain increased steadily (Figure 1.2).3-6 Since then, however, they have remained largely unchanged at around 6 per 100,000 males and 4 per 100,000 females.

Figure 1.2: Multiple Myeloma (C90), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, Great Britain, 1975-2008

inc_asr_gb_mmyeloma.swf

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At least part of the increasing trend between the 1970s and 1990s may be attributed to improvements in the diagnosis and registration of multiple myeloma.

The incidence trend for multiple myeloma in the UK is shown in Figure 1.3.

Figure 1.3: Multiple Myeloma (C90), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, UK, 1993-2008

inc_asr_uk_mmyeloma.swf

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section updated 28/11/11

Prevalence data relates to those people in the UK population who were alive on a specific date having previously been diagnosed with cancer. The latest analysis shows that on 31st December 2006, almost 12,500 people were alive up to ten years after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma.9 Table 1.2 shows the one, five and ten year prevalence by sex for multiple myeloma.

table showing multiple myeloma prevalence in the UK

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section updated 13/06/11

Jaffe, E.S., et al.,Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues. World Health Organisation Classification of Tumours. 2001, Lyon, France: IARC Press (out of print)
Swerdlow SH, Campo E, Harris NL, et al.,editors World Health Organization classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. Series Lyon: IARC; 2008.
Office for National Statistics, Cancer Statistics registrations: Registrations of cancer diagnosed in 2008, England. (PDF 544KB) Series MB1 no.39. 2010, National Statistics: London.
Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit Accessed 2011
ISD Online Information and Statistics Division, NHS Scotland. Accessed 2011
Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Cancer Incidence and Mortality. Accessed 2011
Goldberg ID, Levin ML, Gerhardt PR, Handy VH, Cashman RE The probability of developing cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 17: 155-173 1956
Esteve J, Benhamou E and Raymond L Descriptive epidemiology (IARC Scientific Publications No.128), Lyon, International Agency for Research on Cancer, pp 67-68 1994
National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) One, Five and Ten Year Cancer Prevalence June 2010