OBJECTIVEThis study analyzed the clinical data of newly diagnosed childhood leukemia from various hospitals in the cities or counties of Hunan Province between 2002 and 2005 in order to provide references for further epidemiologic survey of childhood leukemia.

METHODSThe clinical data of children with newly diagnosed leukemia from hospitals of various cities or counties of Hunan Province between 2002 and 2005 were collected and reviewed.

RESULTSThere were 803 children with leukemia during 2002-2005. Acute lymphoid leukemia was most commonly seen (597/803, 74.35%), followed by acute non-lymphoid leukemia (192/803, 23.91%) and chronic myelocytic leukemia (14/803, 1.74%). There were no significant differences in the clinical type and the prevalence of leukemia between males and females. The prevalence of newly diagnosed childhood leukemia in the urban area was noticeably higher than that in the rural area (2.02/10(5) vs 1.50/10(5), P < 0.05). 41.79% of children with newly diagnosed leukemia from the urban area received treatments but only 22.80% of patients from the rural area received treatments (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study of patients-based hospitals showed some features of the morbidity of childhood leukemia in Hunan Province. It provides references for further epidemiologic investigation of this disease in Hunan Province.