Impact of age and demographic transition on hematological malignancies in Algeria: Meta-analysis study covering a period from 1992 to 2021 (30 years)

Introduction: In oncological hematology, certain hematological malignancies are the prerogative of elderly subjects beyond the sixth decade. In Algeria, a demographic transition is taking place and the number of elderly patients is clearly increasing. The objective of this work is to evaluate this demographic transition during hematological malignancies in elderly subjects in order to establish data allowing an approach to the future care needs of these patients. Methods: A meta-analysis study covering all of the national epidemiological surveys of hematological malignancies in elderly subjects was carried out during the period from 1992 to 2021. The pathologies selected were, multiple myeloma (MM), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), lymphoma, non-CML myeloproliferative syndromes, non-CLL lymphoproliferative syndromes and Waldenström's disease. The evaluation focused on the age of onset at diagnosis and their respective effects. Results: During a period of 30 years, 25.017 patients were collected among 22 hematological malignancies in elderly patients. The results of the evaluations show a progressive increase in the age of patients at diagnosis, by 10 years during AML, a gain of 4 years during MDS, 3 years during MM, 5 years during CLL. Similarly, we are witnessing an increasing progression in the incidence of all of these pathologies, which is multiplied by 2.5 in AML, by 2.69 in MM or 5.42 in MDS or 1.21 in CLL. Conclusion: This meta-analysis study of hematological malignancies in elderly patients showed a progressive and permanent increase in age at diagnosis as well as an increase in incidence, which reflect the impact of the demographic transition from general population in Algeria.