Estimates of age-standardized incidence of leukaemia in children aged under 15 years

Data source
GLOBOCAN (1).

Description of data
In this fact sheet, incidence is given as the number of new cases per 100 000 children per year in children aged 0–14 years.

Method of calculating the indicator
National estimates of incidence, standardized to world standard population aged 0–14 years: number of new cases per 100 000 children per year.. In most cases, recent incidence rates were used to project incidence for 2012. In others, mortality rates were used to derive incidence rates using applicable incidence-mortality rates. Each county’s specific method and data used is available on the GLOBOCAN 2012 website (1).

Geographical coverage
40 countries of the WHO European Region.

Period of coverage
Data from as early as 1990 and through as recent as 2009 in some cases was used to project incidence rates for 2012. 2008 data uses rates from around year 2000, mostly represented by 1998–2002 but with some variation between registries.

Frequency of update
Every five years.

Data quality
From the public health point of view, mortality from leukaemia is an important co-indicator in assessing the quality of health care. Comparable methods of collection, classification, description and registration of information are important to allow comparisons between the incidence of and mortality from leukaemia. Complete national data registries for leukaemia in children and young people are crucial. More recent data are essential to better assess the problem of leukaemia. There is room for improved geographical coverage, especially in eastern and southern Europe.