Epidemiology of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

MDS are more common with advancing ageRotter LK et al. Cancer J. 2023;29:111-121.

≈ 4 in 100,000

people in the United States are diagnosed with MDSRotter LK et al. Cancer J. 2023;29:111-121. Sekeres MA, Taylor J. JAMA. 2022;328:872-880.

≈ 6-fold increase

(25 per 100,000)

In patients aged ≥ 65 years, the incidence of MDS increasesSekeres MA, Taylor J. JAMA. 2022;328:872-880.

The incidence of MDS increases progressively with age, with a median age at diagnosis of 76 yearsRotter LK et al. Cancer J. 2023;29:111-121. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Accessed November 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/.

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program incidence rates by age at diagnosis, 2016–2020Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Accessed November 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/.

SEER incidence rates by age at diagnosis

Men are nearly twice as likely as women to have MDSRotter LK et al. Cancer J. 2023;29:111-121. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Accessed November 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/.

SEER 5-year age-adjusted incidence rates by sex, 2016-2020Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Accessed November 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/.

White individuals have been found to have the highest incidence rates compared with people of other racesRotter LK et al. Cancer J. 2023;29:111-121. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Accessed November 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/.

SEER 5-year age-adjusted incidence rates by race/ethnicity, 2016-2020Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Accessed November 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/.

The survival rate with MDS falls behind those of many solid tumors and hematologic malignanciesSurveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Accessed November 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/. Zeidan AM et al. Blood Rev. 2019;34:1-15.

Patients with MDS have poor long-term survival compared with patients who have other cancers, and the overall survival has not improved over the last 2 decades, based on an analysis of SEER dataSurveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Accessed November 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/. Zeidan AM et al. Blood Rev. 2019;34:1-15.

SEER 5-year relative survival rates of patients with cancer in the United States, 2013–2019Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Accessed November 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/.

AML, acute myeloid leukemia; CML, chronic myeloid leukemia.

MDS is often unrecognized and underdiagnosedKhan AM. Am J Med. 2012;125(suppl):S15-S17. Cogle CR. Curr Hematol Malig Rep. 2015;10:272-281.

**The epidemiology of MDS is likely underestimated because many patients with MDS who have anemia or cytopenia do not receive a definitive diagnosisCogle CR. Curr Hematol Malig Rep. 2015;10:272-281.**

Several factors contribute to the lack of recognition of MDS as a malignancy, and to underdiagnosis

Incidental findingWeinberg OK, Hasserjian RP. Semin Hematol. 2019;56:15-21.

Patients with MDS may be clinically asymptomatic for years, and cytopenias are often detected incidentally on routine labs for other reasons

Overlooked as part of agingScott B. Am J Med. 2012;125(suppl):S33-S34.

Anemia is common among older patients and may be overlooked as a normal consequence of aging

Non-specific symptomatologyWeinberg OK, Hasserjian RP. Semin Hematol. 2019;56:15-21.

Typical presenting symptoms are non-specific, and clinical features overlap with other malignant and non-malignant entities

Requires specialized testsGlauser TA et al. Leuk Res. 2013;37:1656-1661.

Definitive diagnosis of MDS often requires specialized tests, such as bone marrow biopsy, cytogenetic analysis, and molecular testing, which may not be accessible in some settings or not routinely ordered, leading to inconclusive results

Evolving guidelinesZeidan AM et al. Blood Rev. 2019;34:1-15. Cogle CR. Curr Hematol Malig Rep. 2015;10:272-281.

Evolving classification systems and changing guidelines for the coding of MDS cases complicate the reporting of MDS to cancer registries