Global, regional, and national burden of acute myeloid leukemia, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2021

Abstract Background Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as the most common subtype of leukemia in adults, is characterised by rapid progression and poor prognosis. In the context of the rapid development of medical technology and the complexity of social factors, a detailed report describing the latest epidemiological patterns of AML is important for decision makers to allocate healthcare resources effectively. Methods Our research utilized the latest data sourced from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. To delineate the burden of AML, we comprehensively described the incidence, deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and the associated age-standardized rates per 100,000 persons (ASR) spanning from 1990 to 2021 stratifies according to age, sex, socio-demographic index (SDI), and nationality. Additionally, we extracted and analyzed data about the risk factors that contribute to AML-related deaths and DALYs. Results According to our study, the incidence of AML has continued to rise globally from 79,372 in 1990 to 144,645 in 2021 and AML affected the male and the elderly populations disproportionately. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between the burden of AML and the SDI value. Developed nations generally exhibited higher age-standardized incidence rate, age-standardized death rate, and age-standardized disability-adjusted life year rate than the developing nations. We also analyzed the prevalence of smoking, high body mass index, and occupational benzene and formaldehyde exposure in the AML population in different SDI regions. Moreover, smoking and high body mass index were more prevalent in developed countries, whereas occupational exposure to these chemicals was the predominant risk factor in developing countries. Conclusion The global burden of AML has increased over the past 32 years, with rising morbidity and mortality. The incidence of AML is differentially distributed across different SDI countries or regions. AML incidence is higher in the elderly and in men. The proportions of smoking, high body mass index, and occupational exposure to benzene and formaldehyde varied by region. The findings highlight the need for region-specific prevention and call for future research on preventive strategies and new treatments to lower AML incidence and improve patient outcomes.