Patterns and trends in the incidence of leukemia in children and young adults in Northern England by age, sex, socioeconomic and urban–rural status

Leukemia is the most common cancer among children and young adults, accounting for 30% of cases worldwide. Although global studies report geographic and demographic differences in incidence, long-term patterns in northern England remain insufficiently examined. This study investigates leukemia incidence among individuals aged 0-24 years in northern England from 1968 to 2021, considering age, sex, socioeconomic status, and urban-rural residence. Data were obtained from the Northern Region Young Persons Malignant Disease Registry. Incidence rates were calculated by age group (0-14, 15-24 years), sex, deprivation quintiles (Townsend Deprivation Score), and urban-rural status. Temporal trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression to estimate annual percentage changes, and Poisson regression was applied to evaluate demographic and socioeconomic effects. Higher incidence occurred in 0-14-year-olds, especially ages 0-4. Males consistently showed higher rates. Incidence increased annually in 0-14-year-olds but declined after 1995 in 15-24-year-olds. Rural areas showed increased incidence in 2016-2021, whilst there was no significant association with deprivation.