Incidence in Ph-Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in Armenia from 2005 to 2019

Introduction: Enhancements of laboratory diagnostics and the emergence of new therapies had a significant impact on the incidence, prevalence and survival of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Published epidemiology data are scarce, and multiple sources are needed to assess the disease burden. The aim of our work was to identify the patterns and trends of incidence, prevalence and survival of patients with MPN in the Republic of Armenia (RA) for the period 2005-2019. Methods: The data from Hematology Center blood diseases register, Oncological Center cancer register, as well as the data from death registration were the basis of our research. Demographic data were obtained from National Statistical Office of RA. Results: Analysis of the data obtained has shown that during the reporting period the average annual incidence of MPN was 1.84 per 100.000 inhabitants, including 2.1 for males and 1.64 for females. Analysis of incidence rates of MPN in relation to sex and age in the period under study revealed high rates in patients in groups 65 - 74 (8.3) and 55 - 64 (5.12 per 100 thousand years), respectively. According to the data obtained in the group of patients with MPN, the high annual average incidence rates are noted in primary myelofibrosis (PMF) (1.09 in 2018) and polycythemia vera (PV) (0.89 in 2016), the lowest for essential thrombocythemia (ET) (0.7 in 2016) per 100.000 population, respectively. In comparing our data to those obtained for 1966-1971 and 1998-2004 periods, one may detect a statistically significant increase in the total incidence of PMF and PV (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Analysis of the incidence rate in MPNs adjusted for age and gender shown the prevalence in group 65 - 74 (8.3) and in group 55 - 64 (5.13) per 100,000 inhabitants. The peak of incidence rate for both males and females was the age 65 - 74 and the male female incidence ratio in this age group was 11.3:6.2. The increasing incidence rate in MPNs in Armenia depends on the improvement of laboratory diagnosis. Thrombotic complications are observed in patients with an MPN in 45.3% of cases. In most cases, thrombosis is the first clinical symptom of an MPN, which determines the need for the introduction into clinical practice of molecular genetic testing methods among patients with thrombosis, an increase in blood levels, splenomegaly for the early diagnosis of clonal hematopoiesis and the use of a targeted drug.