Analysis of epidemiological characteristics of leukemia in Kazakhstan using unified nationwide electronic healthcare data
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Abdulafeez Katibi Abdulkadir 1 , Arnur Gusmanov 1 , Muhammad Kabir Musa 1 2 , Usman Abubakar Haruna 1 3 * , Enyinnaya Ukaegbu 1 , Ainash Oshibayeva 4 , Saltanat Kyrykbayeva 4 , Zhanar Zhagiparova 4 , Gulnaz Nuskabayeva 4 , Aliya Ualiyeva 4 5 , Dinara Galiyeva 1 , Abduzhappar Gaipov 1 *
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1 Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University Nur-Sultan, KAZAKHSTAN2 University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, 428 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, USA3 Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, NIGERIA4 Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, KAZAKHSTAN5 Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Turkistan, KAZAKHSTAN* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Background: Leukemia is the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Based on the rate of cellular division, leukemia is classified into acute or chronic myeloid or lymphoid types. Previous studies have highlighted rising leukemia cases in Kazakhstan; however, no study has described the epidemiology of leukemia and its subtypes.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study uses the unified nationwide electronic healthcare system to characterize the epidemiology of leukemia and its subtypes in patients treated in any clinical setting in Kazakhstan from 2014 to 2019. The Chi-square test was used for categorical variables, the independent t-tests for continuous numeric variables between two groups, and ANOVA for comparing means across multiple groups. A cox proportional hazards regression model calculates crude and adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality risk.
Results: Of 9,561 patients, 4,783 (50.1%) were male and 4,778 (49.9%) were female. Median survival was 12 years (4,508 days). Mortality rates varied, with a slight increase in unspecified leukemia (C95) diagnoses in 2018-2019. Males (HR = 1.15, [95% CI: 1.07-1.23]), urban residents (HR = 1.52, [95% CI: 1.40-1.65]), and older individuals had higher mortality risks. Russians (HR = 1.42, [95% CI: 1.28-1.57]) and patients with hypertension (HR = 1.58, [95% CI: 1.53-1.64]) or chronic kidney disease (HR = 1.84, [95% CI: 1.60-2.10]) faced higher risk of death.
Conclusion: Leukemia incidence and mortality in Kazakhstan are higher among males, urban residents, older individuals, and patients with comorbidities. These findings highlight the need for targeted healthcare policies and clinical management strategies to address disparities and improve outcomes in Kazakhstan.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Original Article

ELECTRON J GEN MED, Volume 22, Issue 6, December 2025, Article No: em702

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/17438

Publication date: 19 Nov 2025

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