A Single Centre Study of the Prevalence of Haematological Malignancies in the South-South Region of Nigeria

Background: Haematological malignancies are clonal haemopoietic disorders characterised by the accumulation of malignant haemopoietic cells in various body tissues. They arise due to varied genetic damages to several key biochemical pathways in cellular differentiation, proliferation and maturation. Objective: To determine the prevalence of haematological malignancies in Delta State, Nigeria. Methods: The study was a longitudinal study carried out at Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara. Patients were recruited consecutively as diagnoses were made. Results: Seventy-three patients diagnosed with haematological malignancies were involved in this study. Females were slightly more affected than males (50.7% vs 49.3%), and patients of 40 - 65 years were most affected (28.8%). Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (16.4%) and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (16.4%) were the most common haematological malignancies. More female had CLL (91.7%), Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) (57.1%), Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) (100%) and Polycythaemia vera (PV) (100%). Conclusion: Haematological malignancies are common and on the rise in the centre of study and generally in Nigeria, with a notable change in the spectrum of the diseases.