Multiple myeloma (ICD-9 203)

There was a clear difference in both incidence and mortality rates between the Nordic countries and the others, the Nordic countries having roughly two-fold rates (incidence in males 33-43/10⁶ and females 22-33/10⁶; mortality 25-34/10⁶ and 17-22/10⁶, respectively). Mortality/incidence ratios were around 0.8 in all areas except Saarland where a ratio as low as 0.6 was recorded in both sexes.

In the Nordic countries there was a constant increase of both mortality and incidence rate by age, whereas, e.g., in Baltic countries there was a strong decreasing trend after the age of 65.

There are no obvious explanations for the regional differences.