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Incidence of Leukemia by County, New Mexico, 2017-2021

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Incidence of Leukemia by County, New Mexico, 2017-2021

  • #This count or rate is statistically unstable (RSE >0.30), and may fluctuate widely across time periods due to random variation (chance). Please use caution in interpreting this value, or combine years, areas, or age groups to increase the population size.
  • ##The estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and does not meet standards for reliability. A count or rate such as this should not be used to inform decisions. Try combining years, areas, or age groups to increase the population size.

Why Is This Important?

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood-forming cells that affects both adults and children. Leukemia is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in children and adolescents, and often arises very rapidly over a short period (acute form). In adults, leukemia is more likely to take years to develop (chronic form). Leukemia is further grouped by the type of blood cell affected. The major childhood leukemia include acute lymphocytic and acute myeloid leukemia, whereas in adults, major subtypes include chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. The causes of leukemia are not well understood, but appear to involve a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. Each year, leukemia accounts for approximately 3% of new cancer cases and 4% of all cancer deaths in the U.S. The five-year survival rate is about 66%.

Definition

Leukemia incidence refers to the number of persons newly diagnosed with leukemia within a specified time period and age group. Measures include 1) the number of newly diagnosed leukemia cases; and 2) age-adjusted leukemia incidence rates (adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 US standard population). Measures are calculated for childern and all ages. Childhood rates (< 15 years of age and < 20 years of age) are expressed per 1,000,000 persons. Rates for all ages are expressed per 100,000 persons.

Data Notes

Rates have been age-adjusted using the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population.

Data Sources

How the Measure is Calculated

  • Numerator:

    The number of leukemia cases newly diagnosed in New Mexico residents within a specified time period and age group. The data are based on the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program incidence site recodes for leukemia, including: 35011 to 35043 (all leukemias combined). http://seer.cancer.gov/siterecode/
  • Denominator:

    The estimated population of New Mexico residents within a specified time period and age group.

Data Issues

  • New Mexico Population Estimates

    All population estimates apply to July 1 of the selected year. These estimates are considered the most accurate estimates for the state of New Mexico and should match those found on the University of New Mexico Geospatial and Population Studies website. Estimates include decimal fractions. Census tract population estimates were summed to produce County and Small Area population estimates. Population estimate totals may vary due to rounding. Population estimates for previous years are occasionally revised as new information becomes available. When publishing trend data, always be sure that your rates for earlier years match current rates on NM-IBIS that have been calculated with the most up-to-date population estimates.

  • New Mexico Tumor Registry

    In agreement with the New Mexico Tumor Registry, to ensure confidentiality the count of cancer cases is suppressed for any given county if the count is between one and four and the population is less than 1,000. NOTE: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health services, leading to delays and reductions in cancer screening, diagnosis, and reporting to some central cancer registries. This may have contributed to an observed decline in 2020 incidence for most cancer sites.

Health Topic Pages Related to: Cancer Incidence - Leukemia

Indicator Data Last Updated On 01/22/2024, Published on 01/24/2024
Environmental Health Epidemiology Bureau, Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, Epidemiology and Response Division, New Mexico Department of Health, 1190 S. Saint Francis Drive, Suite 1300, Santa Fe, NM 87505, Srikanth Paladugu, Bureau Chief, Srikanth.Paladugu@doh.nm.gov, or Stephanie Moraga-McHaley, Environmental Epidemiologist Supervisor, Stephanie.Moraga-Mc@doh.nm.gov