Myeloma mortality statistics

Myeloma is the 15th most common cause of cancer death in the UK (2014), accounting for 2% of all cancer deaths.[1-3] In males, it is the 15th most common cause of cancer death in the UK (2% of all male cancer deaths), whilst it is the 15th most common cause of cancer death in females in the UK (2% of all female cancer deaths).

In 2014, there were 2,928 myeloma deaths in the UK:1,596 (55%) in males and 1,332 (45%) in females, giving a male:female ratio of around 12:10.[1-3] The crude mortality rate shows that there are 5 myeloma deaths for every 100,000 males in the UK, and 4 for every 100,000 females.

The European age-standardised mortality rates (AS rates) do not differ significantly between the constituent countries of the UK for either sex.[1-3]

Myeloma (C90), Number of Deaths, Crude and European Age-Standardised (AS) Mortality Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2014

Analysis of myeloma mortality rates throughout the UK shows very little variation between health boundaries for both males and females.[4]

Myeloma mortality is strongly related to age, with the highest mortality rates being in older males and females. In the UK in 2012-2014, on average each year around 6 in 10 (59%) deaths were in people aged 75 and over.[1-3]

Age-specific mortality rates rise gradually from around age 50-54, and more sharply from around age 65-59 with the highest rates in the 90+ age group in males and the 85-89 age group in females. Mortality rates are significantly higher for males than for females in those aged 50-54 and over and this gap is widest at the ages of 55-59, when the male:female ratio of age-specific rates (to account for the different proportions of males to females in each age group) is around 19:10.[1-3]

Myeloma (C90), Average Number of Deaths per Year and Age-Specific Mortality Rates, UK, 2012-2014

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For most cancer types, mortality by age largely reflects incidence and survival by age, e.g. typically, higher incidence and lower survival in older people results in higher mortality in older people.

Myeloma mortality rates have increased by 56% in the UK since the early 1970s.[1-3] This includes a larger overall increase for males than females. For both sexes there has been an increase followed by a decrease during this time. 

For males, European age-standardised (AS) mortality rates increased by 86% between 1971-1973 and 1987-1989 and then decreased by 11% between 1987-1989 and 2012-2014. The pattern is similar for females, with rates increasing by 65% between 1971-1973 and 1987-1989, then decreasing by 13% between 1987-1989 and 2012-2014.

Over the last decade in the UK (between 2003-2005 and 2012-2014), myeloma AS mortality rates have remained stable in the UK for males and females combined, however this includes stable rates in males and a decrease in females (6%).[1-3]

Myeloma (C90), European Age-Standardised Mortality Rates, UK, 1971-2014

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For most cancer types, mortality trends largely reflect incidence and survival trends, e.g. increased incidence without sufficient survival improvement results in increased mortality.

Myeloma mortality rates have decreased overall for the under- 60s in the UK since the early 1970s, but have increased in people aged 70-79 and 80+ and have remained stable in people aged 60-69.[1-3] The largest decrease has been in people aged 25-49, with rates decreasing by 36% between 1971-1973 and 2012-2014. The largest increase has been in people aged 80+, with rates increasing by 205% between 1971-1973 and 2012-2014.

Myeloma (C90), European Age-Standardised Mortality Rates, by Age, Persons, UK, 1971-2014

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Myeloma mortality rates are projected to fall by 17% in the UK between 2014 and 2035, to 5 deaths per 100,000 people by 2035.[1] This includes a smaller decrease for males than for females.

For males, myeloma European age-standardised (AS) mortality rates in the UK are projected to fall by 16% between 2014 and 2035, to 6 deaths per 100,000 by 2035.[1] For females, rates are projected to fall by 22% between 2014 and 2035, to 4 deaths per 100,000 by 2035.[1]

Myeloma (C90), Observed and Projected Age-Standardised Mortality Rates, by Sex, UK, 1979-2035

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It is projected that 3,835 deaths from myeloma (2,265 in males, 1,570 in females) will occur in the UK in 2035.

There is no evidence for an association between myeloma mortality and deprivation for either males or females in England.[1] England-wide data for 2007-2011 show European age-standardised mortality rates are similar for both males and females living in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived.[1]

Myeloma (C90), European Age-Standardised Mortality Rates by Deprivation Quintile, England, 2007-2011

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The estimated deprivation gradient in myeloma mortality between people living in the most and least deprived areas in England has not changed in the period 2002-2011.[1]

Myeloma (C88 & C90) is the 16th most common cause of cancer death in Europe, with around 24,300 deaths from myeloma in 2012 (1% of the total). In Europe (2012), the highest World age-standardised mortality rates are in Norway for both men and women; the lowest rates are in Albania for both men and women. UK myeloma mortality rates are estimated to be the 7th highest in males in Europe, and 10th highest in females.[1] These data are broadly in line with Europe-specific data available elsewhere.[2]

Myeloma (C88 & C90) is the 20th most common cause of cancer death worldwide, with around 80,000 deaths from myeloma in 2012 (1% of the total). Myeloma mortality rates are highest in North America and lowest in Western Africa, but this partly reflects varying data quality worldwide.[1]