The Prevalence and Distribution Pattern of Adult Haematological Malignancies in Rivers State, Nigeria: A Sixteen Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Haematological malignancies are a heterogeneous group of clonal neoplastic disorder of the blood and blood forming organs associated with significant mortality and morbidity in our locality. Objectives: To determine the prevalence, pattern of distribution and yearly trends of adult patients diagnosed with haematological malignancies in two tertiary hospitals in Rivers State, Nigeria, between 2009 and 2024. Methods: This was a sixteen (16) year retrospective study of adult patients with HM. Data was retrieved from the archives of the departments of Haematology and Histopathology of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching hospital and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and was analyzed with SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics were presented using figures and tables. Results: A total of 2832 cases of malignancies were seen over the sixteen (16) years period. Two hundred and thirty five (8.3%) were adult with haematological malignancies. One hundred and eighteen (50.2%) were males and 117 (49.8%) were females with a ratio of 1.01:1. The mean age at presentation was 47.3 ± 16.3 years. Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and Non Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were the most common HMs (28.9% and 17.9% respectively), followed by multiple myeloma (14.9%). The annual incidence increased gradually, peaking in the years 2020 and 2024 Conclusion: This study reveals the prevalence and pattern of haematolologic malignancies in our locality. This will serve as a tool in creating public awareness on the burden of the disease. The increased incidence of HMs in recent years highlights the need for improved public health surveillance and diagnostic facilities in our environment.