Epidemiology

Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia (WM) is a rare disorder. In the US in 2016, there were an estimated 1270 new cases of WM.[5]

WM most commonly occurs in older white men (aged >70 years).[6][7][8][9][10]​​

In one US study using Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data (1980-2016), the age-adjusted annual incidence rate for WM was 0.48 per 100,000.[6]​ Annual incidence increased with age, from 0.06 per 100,000 in those aged under 50 years to 3.2 per 100,000 in those aged 80 years and over.[6]​ Annual incidence was higher in men than women (0.65 per 100,000 vs. 0.36 per 100,000, respectively) and in white people than black people (0.52 per 100,000 vs. 0.29 per 100,000, respectively).[6]​ In the US, median age at diagnosis is 73 years.[7]

In one UK registry study (data from 1999 to 2001), the age-adjusted annual incidence rate of WM was 0.55 per 100,000.[10]​ Annual incidence increased with age and was higher in men than women (0.73 per 100,000 vs. 0.42 per 100,000, respectively). Median age at diagnosis was 75 years.​[10]

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