RESULTS
Between January 1st 2009 and December
31st 2018, a total of 455 patients were diagnosed with
acute leukaemia at WCH (n=202) and PCH (n=253). Over half of the
children were males (57.6%, n=262/455). Patient age at diagnosis ranged
from 1 day to 17 years and 10 months (median age 5.0 years) (Table 1).
No significant difference was detected between patients from SA/NT and
WA with regards to gender, Indigenous status, leukaemia diagnosis,
cytogenetic group, relapse rate and mortality status.
Indigenous status was self-reported for all cases. A total of 29
Aboriginal children were diagnosed with leukaemia, 15 from SA/NT (7.4%)
and 14 from WA (5.5%). There were no individuals who identified as
Torres Strait Islander from either centre. Aboriginal children were
significantly more likely to have a higher number of siblings (2.1 vs.
1.3, p=0.009). They were significantly older at diagnosis compared to
non-Aboriginal children (median age 8.1 vs. 4.9 years, p=0.01).