Navigation and service

Leukaemias

ICD-10 C91–C95
2019

¹ per 100,000 persons, age-standardised according to the old European standard population

* calculated using the period method for 2017 / 2018

WomenMen
Incidence5,3047,419
Age-standardised incidence rate¹7.512.2
Deaths3,6704,590
Age-standardised mortality rate¹3.76.3
5-year prevalence16,81722,576
10-year prevalence28,70038,200
Relative 5-year survival rate*56 %58 %
Relative 10-year survival rate*48 %51 %

Leukaemias are classified according to the speed of disease progression (acute, chronic) and the cell type from which they originate (myeloid, lymphatic).

The four most common forms of leukaemia are:

  • Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
  • Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
  • Acute lymphatic leukaemia (ALL)
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)

In addition to these four main types, there are several other forms of leukaemia, but they are rare.

Frequency of leukaemias

In 2019, approximately 12,723 people in Germany were diagnosed with leukaemia, 4 percent of whom were under 15 years of age. The risk of developing leukaemia decreases in children and young adults with increasing age. At the age of 30 years, risk begins to increase again, with a higher incidence rate in men compared to women. One in 75 men and one in 99 women will develop leukaemia during their lifetimes.

Age-specific incidence rates by sex, ICD-10 C91 – C95, Germany 2015 – 2016, per 100,000. Source: © German Centre for Cancer Registry Data at the Robert Koch Institute Age-specific incidence rates by sex, ICD-10 C91 – C95, Germany 2015 – 2016, per 100,000

Between 1999 and 2018, age-standardised incidence rates remained relatively stable, while age-standardised mortality rates declined. About 37 percent of newly diagnosed cases were chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and about 23 percent acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Proportion of leukaemias C91-C95 by type and sex, Germany 2017–2018
ALLCLLAMLCMLother
Women7 %34 %27 %9 %24 %
Men7 %38 %22 %8 %25 %

The prognosis for people with leukaemia depends on the form of the disease and the age at diagnosis: People diagnosed in childhood have by far the best chances of survival, whereas the acute forms of the disease in adults still have a rather poor prognosis. Overall, just over a third of adults with leukaemia are still alive 10 years after diagnosis. In the case of chronic leukaemia, a cure, e.g. by means of a high-risk stem cell transplant, is seldom possible.

Ionising radiation increases the risk of leukaemia

No risk factor has been identified that affects all types of leukaemia. However, some factors increase the risk of developing certain leukaemias. Among the known risk factors for acute leukaemias are ionizing radiation and cytostatic drugs. Occupational exposure to benzene, 1,3-butadiene and related substances can also contribute to the development of leukaemia. Some rare genetic alterations can increase the risk of acute leukaemia, including trisomy of chromosome 21. Viruses have not been confirmed as a risk factor for leukaemia, with the exception of the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), which is extremely rare in Europe. Several other risk factors are currently being discussed as causes of leukaemia. These include environmental influences as well as lifestyle factors such as smoking or excess body weight. However, a connection has not yet been proven.

For most patients with leukaemia, no clear cause can be found. It is likely that several factors must work together.

Date: 24.10.2022

Additional Information

Database Query

Datenbankabfrage

In an interactive database query you find information on current cancer statistics.