SUMMARY
Objective: To determine the incidence and soclodemographic factors associated with
various adult leukaemia subtypes in a tertiary hospital in, Nigeria.
Patients and Methods: A total of 190 patients with a diagnosis of leukaemia seen OVf:T a
12-year period (1990.2002) at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria were
studied. They were analyzed in the context of gender, marital status, geographical abode.
educational and occupational status,
Results: There were 70 males and 120 females with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.7.
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) was the more frequent variety (31.6%). Gender, marital
status, geographical abode, occupational status (P = 0.0001) and educational status
(P=O.0036) were slgrll./lcantly associated with the various types of leukaemia. Chronic
leukaemi(ls were more common in married and widowed patients while acute leukaemlas were
much more common in unmarried patients. All the leukaemia subtypes were more common in
patients who resided In Delta state, a major 011 producer. Majority of the patienio with acute
leukaemia we,e students while those with chronic l~ukaemia were in the lower socioeconomic
classes.
Conclusion: Povc~rtyand illiteracy are additional problems with patients lvith chronic
leukaemias. Living In Delta State where the petrochemical Industries and gas flare site." are
located may be a risk factor for the development of leukaemia.