Mortality and premature life lost from leukemia in China, 2005-2020: A study based on the National Mortality Surveillance System.

[BACKGROUND] The "Healthy China 2030" initiative, which aims to achieve a 30% reduction in premature mortality by 2030, recognizes leukemia as the primary cause of cancer-related deaths. Given the limited previous research, providing comprehensive national and subnational estimates and temporal trends of the premature leukemia mortality burden from 2005 to 2020 is crucial.

[METHODS] Using data from various sources acquired through the national surveillance mortality system, estimates were derived and compared across 31 provincial-level administrative regions in the Chinese mainland, revealing the magnitude of mortality rates and years of life lost (YLL) due to leukemia in the Chinese population between 2005 and 2020.

[RESULTS] In 2020, the estimated number of leukemia-related deaths decreased from 61.93 thousand in 2005 to 54.86 thousand, accompanied by a decline in age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) from 4.97 per 100,000 population in 2005 to 3.49 per 100,000 population. The burden of premature mortality caused by leukemia exhibited a significant reduction, as indicated by a nationwide decline of -39.37% (from 239.46 to 145.18 per 100,000 population) in the age-standardized YLL rate. Despite a notable decrease (-11.41%) in leukemia mortality, China has the highest burden of leukemia-related deaths due to its large population, primarily driven by population aging (12.76%), which has contributed to an upsurge in leukemia fatalities, followed by population growth (7.67%). Leukemia mortality exhibited distinct variations among different provinces and demonstrated a positive correlation with economic activity, particularly in coastal provinces characterized by higher levels of economic development. Xizang is currently the only province experiencing a significant increase in mortality rate, necessitating urgent government support.

[CONCLUSIONS] Significant disparities in premature mortality attributed to leukemia were observed across diverse regions of China, underscoring the need for targeted interventions aimed at promoting a health-protective lifestyles and expanding timely access to basic medical insurance for diagnosis and cost-effective therapy, particularly among high-risk populations and regions with limited healthcare resources.