Myeloma - UK mortality statistics

Myeloma mortality statistics by country in the UK and age are presented here. There are also data on trends over time, geographic variation and socio-economic group. The ICD code for myeloma (sometimes called multiple myeloma) is ICD-10 C90.

The latest cancer incidence statistics available for the UK are for 2009, and for mortality the latest statistics are for 2010. We are currently working to update all the incidence and mortality pages on this site. Find out why more up to date statistics are not yet available.

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By country in the UK

Myeloma is the 14th most common cause of cancer death among men in the UK, and the 15th most common cause of cancer death among women, accounting for more than 1% of all cancer deaths in each sex. In 2010, there were 2,633 deaths from myeloma in the UK: 1,355 (51%) in men and 1,278 (49%) in women, giving a male:female ratio of 11:10. The crude mortality rate shows that there were around 4 myeloma deaths for every 100,000 people in the UK (Table 2.1).1-3 Age-standardised (AS) mortality rates do not vary significantly between the constituent countries of the UK.

Table 2.1: Myeloma (C90), Number of Deaths, Crude and European Age-Standardised (AS) Mortality Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2010

England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland UK
Male Deaths 1,148 114 61 32 1,355
Crude Rate 4.5 4.5 4.1 3.6 4.4
AS Rate 3.3 3.3 2.8 3.2 3.3
AS Rate - 95% LCL* 3.1 2.7 2.1 2.1 3.1
AS Rate - 95% UCL* 3.5 3.9 3.5 4.4 3.5
Female Deaths 1,065 117 65 31 1,278
Crude Rate 4.0 4.3 4.2 3.4 4.0
AS Rate 2.3 2.6 2.1 2.3 2.3
AS Rate - 95% LCL* 2.2 2.1 1.6 1.5 2.2
AS Rate - 95% UCL* 2.4 3.0 2.6 3.0 2.4
Persons Deaths 2,213 231 126 63 2,633
Crude Rate 4.2 4.4 4.2 3.5 4.2
AS Rate 2.8 2.9 2.5 2.7 2.7
AS Rate - 95% LCL* 2.6 2.5 2.0 2.0 2.6
AS Rate - 95% UCL* 2.9 3.2 2.9 3.3 2.9

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

section updated 13/04/12

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By age

Just as myeloma incidence rates increase with age, so myeloma mortality rates also increase with age. In the UK between 2008 and 2010, an average 82% of deaths were in people aged 65 and over (Figure 2.1).1-3 Less than 1 in 10 deaths were in people under 60. Mortality rates start to increase at around age 50, increasing more sharply from around age 65, and reaching a peak in those aged 85 and over. The male:female ratio of age-specific mortality rates (to account for the different proportions of males to females in each age group) ranges from 14:10 at age 65-69, to 16:10 at age 75-79.

Figure 2.1: Myeloma (C90), Average Number of Deaths Per Year and Age-Specific Mortality Rates, UK, 2008-2010

deaths_crude_mmyeloma.swf

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section updated 13/04/12

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Trends over time

In line with the increase in myeloma incidence, myeloma mortality rates have increased slightly in the UK since the early 1970s, though this includes both an increase and a slight decrease in rates during this time period (Figure 2.2).1-3 In the early 1970s, mortality rates for men and women were around 2 per 100,000, increasing to around 4 and 3 per 100,000 in the late 1980s, respectively. Since 1990, rates have decreased slightly for both sexes.

Figure 2.2: Myeloma (C90), European Age-Standardised Mortality Rates, UK, 1971-2010

mort_asr_uk_mmyeloma.swf

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section updated 13/04/12

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In Europe and worldwide

Myeloma was responsible for around an estimated 72,450 deaths worldwide in 2008, accounting for around 1% of all cancer deaths, and around 13% of deaths from haematological cancers.4 Similar to incidence, the highest estimated myeloma mortality rates are reported in economically developed world regions (e.g. Australia/New Zealand, Northern America and parts of Europe) and the lowest rates in the least developed regions (e.g. parts of Africa and Asia) (Figures 2.3 and 2.4). The issues with data quality described in the Incidence In Europe and worldwide section also apply to these mortality estimates, with the methods used to estimate mortality differing across the world.

Figure 2.3: Myeloma (C88 and C90), World Age-Standardised Mortality Rates, World Regions, 2008 Estimates

world_mort_mmyeloma.swf

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Figure 2.4: Myeloma (C88 and C90), European Age-Standardised Mortality Rates, EU-27 Countries, 2008 Estimates

EU27_mort_mmyeloma.swf

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section updated 13/04/12

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References for myeloma mortality

  1. Office for National Statistics 2011. Mortality Statistics: Deaths registered in 2010, England and Wales. London: National Statistics, 2011.
  2. General Register Office for Scotland 2011. Deaths Time Series Data, Deaths in Scotland in 2010. Edinburgh, 2011.
  3. Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency 2011. Registrar General Annual Report 2010. Belfast: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, 2011.
  4. Ferlay J, Shin H, Bray F, Forman D, Mathers CD, Parkin DM. GLOBOCAN 2008 (version 1.2), Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2010.