The Incidence Rate of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Saudi Arabia: An Observational Descriptive Population Based Epidemiological Study from the Saudi Cancer Registry (2006–2016)

Abstract

Introduction: Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) consists of several hematologic malignancies arising from B, T lymphocytes or natural killer lymphocytes, and nearly 85–90% originates from B lymphocytes. This current study illustrates frequency of diagnosed NHL cases, age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and crude incidence rate (CIR) by age group, year of diagnosis and administrative regions for identifying the distribution, pattern and real condition of NHL in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: In this study, an epidemiological analysis of NHL cases is conducted on registered cases between 2006 and 2016 from Saudi cancer registry (SCR). For statistical analysis, t-test, sex ratio, Kruskal–Wallis and descriptive statistics were performed by SPSS version 20.0. Results: A total of 8019 NHL cases were documented from reported from January 2006 to December 2016. Among males, Riyadh region had the highest overall ASIR at 7.9 followed by Eastern region at 6.9 per 100,000 males and lowest overall ASIRs were observed in Jazan and Hail region at 3.5, and the Northern region at 3.9 per 100,000 males. The highest overall ASIR among females was reported in the Riyadh region at 6.9 and Eastern region at 5.2 per 100,000 females and lowest overall ASIR was documented in the Jazan region at 2.2, followed by Hail at 2.4. The overall age-standardized incidence sex ratio of NHL was found to be 1.3 per100,000 in Saudi Arabia.  Conclusion: This study concluded an increase in crude incidence rates and age-standardized incidence rates NHL among Saudi population. Highest overall ASIRs for NHL among males and females from 2006 to 2016 were documented in Riyadh and Eastern region. While, lowest overall ASIRs among males and females were documented in the Jazan and Hail region.