CLL-042 Clinical Characteristics of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Younger versus Older Patients in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Abstract

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a common adulthood leukemic type, although the incidence rate in the Kurdistan region is low. It is well known that chronic lymphocytic leukemia is prevalent among older adults; however, frequent cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia are newly diagnosed at a younger age. To analyze the difference in disease presentation, progression, and outcomes between younger and older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. A retrospective cross-sectional review study was carried out in three oncology centers in the Kurdistan region (Nanakaly Hospital in Erbil, Hiwa Center in Sulaymaniyah, and Azadi Center in Duhok) for 10 years, from the 1st of January, 2010, to the 31st of December, 2019, on a convenient sample of 152 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia was done by oncologists in Kurdistan tumor centers according to the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. The age of patients at diagnosis was categorized into two groups and ranged from 25 to 94 years. The age cutoff value in the current study (55 years) depended on previous literature. The mean age of patients at diagnosis was 63 years; 28% were diagnosed at ≤50 years of age, and 72% were diagnosed at an age of more than 55 years. Older patients significantly presented with weight loss, whereas younger patients significantly presented with neck lumps. There was a highly significant association between the advanced ECOG performance scale and older age at diagnosis. A significant association was observed between the death outcome of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and older age at diagnosis. The mean survival duration of younger patients at diagnosis was significantly longer than that of patients who were older at diagnosis. Clinical presentation, physical status, death rates, and survival of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the Kurdistan region of Iraq are different between younger and older patients.