Our aim was to describe a large population-based cohort of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) during the last decade, evaluating possible improvement in survival and to identify subgroups in need of novel treatment strategies. The study population encompassed all patients diagnosed with DLBCL in Sweden from 2000 through 2010. Altogether 5349 patients were identified. There was no increase in incidence for females, but for males there was an estimated yearly increase in incidence by 0.019 per 10 000. When adjusted for age and gender, the improvement in overall survival for the whole group was estimated at 4.5% per year, most prominent in the age group 60-78 years, and in patients with good performance status. In this large dataset, we were able to detect a clear improvement in overall survival in DLBCL, although restricted to specific prognostic subgroups, and to identify specific disease presentations that significantly affect overall survival.
Keywords: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; chemotherapy; incidence; prognostic factors.